The strike occurred at Al-Aqsa hospital while a World Health Organization team was present on a humanitarian mission. Tedros confirmed the incident on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“A WHO team was on a humanitarian mission at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza, when a tent camp inside the hospital compound was hit by an Israeli airstrike today,” the WHO chief said.
“WHO staff are all accounted for,” he added.
The Israeli military refuted claims of damage to the hospital.
“An IAF aircraft struck an operational Islamic Jihad command center and terrorists positioned in the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Hospital in the area of Deir al Balah” IDF said in a post on X.
Refuting any claims of damage, it said, “Following the precise strike, the Al-Aqsa Hospital building was not damaged and its function was not affected.”
In a later post, Tedros informed, “21 patients have died since the hospital came under siege on 18 March. Hostilities continue around the hospital according to updates from Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza reported by a health worker inside the hospital.”
“107 patients are in an inadequate building, within the hospital compound, lacking needed health support, medical care and supplies”, he added.
Renewing the call for a ceasefire, Tedros said, “We repeat: every moment matters. Ceasefire!”