'A Death Sentence': WHO Warns About Evacuation of Gazans Ahead of Israeli Offensive

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said forcing thousands of hospital patients to evacuate to already overflowing hospitals in the southern Gaza Strip may be “a death sentence.” This warning comes as Israel has warned Palestinians to evacuate northern Gaza ahead of an expected ground offensive against Hamas, after last week’s Hamas attack on Israel that left over 1,200 dead.

“WHO strongly condemns Israel’s repeated orders for the evacuation of 22 hospitals treating more than 2,000 inpatients in northern Gaza,” the UN health agency said in a statement. “The forced evacuation of patients and health workers will further worsen the current humanitarian and public health catastrophe,” it added.

The UN health body said the lives of many critically ill and fragile patients hang in the balance, including those in intensive care or who rely on life support; newborns in incubators and women with complications of pregnancy. According to WHO, these patients will face imminent deterioration of their condition or death if they are forced to move and are cut off from life-saving medical attention while being evacuated.

Health facilities in northern Gaza continue to receive an influx of injured patients and are struggling to operate beyond maximum capacity. Some patients are being treated in corridors and outdoors in surrounding streets due to a lack of hospital beds, according to the UN.

Moving 2,000 patients to southern Gaza, “where health facilities are already running at maximum capacity and unable to absorb a dramatic rise in the number patients, could be tantamount to a death sentence,” the WHO said. Moreover, the health body called for Israel to immediately reverse evacuation orders to hospitals in northern Gaza and for the protection of health facilities, health workers, patients, and civilians.