WHO warns of ‘devastating consequences’ due to delayed aid entry into Gaza

What Happened

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday that repeated delays in bringing life-saving medicines, prosthetics and other supplies from Israel into Gaza risk having 'devastating consequences' for Palestinians. WHO representative in Palestine Reinhilde Van De Weerdt said approved aid can enter Gaza only through Kerem Shalom at the southern tip, while Rafah is open only for limited movement of people, including patients needing medical treatment abroad. She stated that one shipment of prosthetics and assistive devices had been rejected four times over the past six months, while medicines 'move relatively well', with almost 87 percent approved and just over 1 percent rejected. Van De Weerdt called on Israeli authorities to 'release the pressure on medical supplies', arguing essential medicines should not be considered dual use. She said four other main entry points — Kissufim, Gate 96, Erez and Erez West — remain closed and under total Israeli control, and called for a multi-crossing model. As winter begins, Van De Weerdt said almost two million people are in need of shelter to protect against cold and flooding. She said residents face heightened risk of preventable disease outbreaks due to lack of safe shelter and clean water, and a high number of rats whose bites transmit infection, a threat harder to track because public health laboratories have been destroyed. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned on Thursday of serious public health risks from solid waste accumulation in Gaza City, noting sanitation gains remain fragile due to lack of reliable access to heavy machinery, engine oil, spare parts and fuel funding. According to OCHA, almost 12 months into a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, marked by continuing Israeli air attacks and other military activity, Gaza's humanitarian situation remains 'overwhelming'.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The WHO's warning underscores how Gaza's humanitarian crisis is compounded by single-point-of-entry restrictions and winter vulnerabilities. With only Kerem Shalom open for goods and four other crossings closed under Israeli control, delays in medical supplies and prosthetics directly affect injured Palestinians and heighten disease risks. The call for a multi-crossing model signals pressure on Israel to ease restrictions, which could influence ceasefire sustainability and international humanitarian scrutiny.

Watch For

Monitor whether Israeli authorities open any of the closed crossings — Kissufim, Gate 96, Erez or Erez West — or approve the delayed prosthetics shipment. Track OCHA and WHO updates on solid waste, disease outbreaks, flooding and shelter needs as winter progresses. Watch for changes in medical supply approval/rejection rates and any official Israeli response to the dual-use classification of essential medicines.