WHO asks Hamas to release hostages

The World Health Organisation on Wednesday, called for Hamas to provide proof of life of the hostages it is holding and release them all on health grounds.

The WHO disclosed that the International Committee of the Red Cross should be allowed immediate medical access to ascertain their health status, while it stands ready to provide any health support required.

Israel has been bombarding since October 7 when Hamas gunmen poured across the border killing 1,400 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 222 others, officials say, in the worst attack in Israel’s history.

So far, more than 6,500 Palestinians have been killed, mostly civilians, and there are fears the toll could further soar if Israel pushes ahead with a widely expected ground invasion in a bid to destroy Hamas and rescue the hostages.

“There is an urgent need for the captors of the hostages to provide signs of life, proof of provision of health care and the immediate release, on humanitarian and health grounds, of all those abducted,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.

“Many of the hostages, including children, women and the elderly, have pre-existing health conditions requiring urgent and sustained care and treatment. The mental health trauma that the abducted, and the families, are facing is acute and psychosocial support is of great importance.”

Tedros said the UN health agency would do “all we can to support the health and humanitarian needs of those being held captive”.

“All civilians who are suffering in this conflict must be protected,” he added.

AFP