WHO warns of deadly impact of spread of disease in Gaza Strip

The head of the World Health Organization warns that more people in the Gaza Strip could die from disease than in the fighting between Israel and the Hamas terror group.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director-general, says there is a heightened risk of disease outbreaks because of overcrowded shelters and a lack of food, water, sanitation and medication.

He says 111,000 people are suffering from respiratory infections and 75,000 others from diarrhea, more than half of them under age 5.

“Given the living conditions and lack of health care, more people could die from disease than bombings,” he says, calling for a sustained ceasefire. “It’s a matter of life or death for civilians.” Israel has said that a long-term ceasefire is not an option until Hamas has been destroyed and all of the hostages seized by the terror group have been returned.

The war, which was trigged by a devastating attack by Gaza terrorists on southern Israel on Oct. 7, has displaced up to 1.8 million people in Gaza, or about 80% of the enclave’s population, according to UN figures.