WHO chief reiterates call for ceasefire in Gaza

Tedros appealed at an annual press conference organized by the Association of Accredited Correspondents at the United Nations in Geneva.

The director-general hailed as "significant" the resolution adopted at the special session of the WHO Executive Board on the health situation in the occupied Palestinian territory, which called for immediate, sustained, and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief in Gaza, including medical personnel.

The resolution also called on Tedros to continue reporting on the crisis's public health implications, assess the crisis's mental health impacts, increase technical and material assistance, and strengthen the health agency's work with partners.

However, these tasks are almost impossible in the current circumstances, Tedros said. "The only real remedy is an immediate ceasefire," he said.

This year, there were over 1,200 documented attacks on health workers, patients, hospitals, clinics, and ambulances, across 19 countries, resulting in nearly 700 deaths and over 1,100 injuries, according to the head of WHO.

Tedros denounced attacks on health as a violation of international humanitarian law, saying health must never be a target.

More than 18,700 Palestinians have been killed amid the ongoing Gaza conflict since Oct 7, with 70 percent of them women and children, the health ministry in Gaza said on Thursday.