WHO chief says Israel blocking vital medical equipment from Gaza

The head of the World Health Organization says Israeli restrictions continue to obstruct the entry of laboratory and diagnostic equipment into Gaza, hampering urgent medical response efforts.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that his agency faces “challenges” from Israel when attempting to bring essential medical supplies into the besieged territory.

“Many items have been denied entry on the grounds of being classified as dual-use,” he said, stressing that the equipment is “vital” for the “timely detection, response, and treatment of people” suffering from acute respiratory illnesses.

Tedros also expressed concern over deaths reported in Gaza over the past day during severe weather, suggesting that many of them could have been avoided if Israel had not restricted the flow of humanitarian aid.