The head of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has condemned Israel’s attack on the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) headquarters in Khan Younis, describing it as “horrific” and renewing urgent calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Three Palestinians were killed, including a Red Crescent staff member, and several others injured when Israeli warplanes targeted a PRCS building and a nearby school sheltering displaced families. The strike sparked a fire inside the facility, further crippling what little remains of Gaza’s shattered healthcare infrastructure.

Dr Tedros expressed condolences to the victims’ families and demanded greater protection for medical and humanitarian workers, stressing that attacks on lifesaving services violate international law. The UN human rights office confirmed that since the war began 666 days ago, at least 49 PRCS staff and 136 civil defence workers have been killed in Israeli strikes.

For Palestinians in Gaza, the attack underscores a grim reality: even those dedicated to saving lives are not spared. With health workers and aid facilities repeatedly targeted, the humanitarian crisis deepens, leaving civilians with nowhere safe to turn amid relentless bombardment.