The World Health Organization said Israeli forces struck its staff residence and main warehouse in Deir al Balah, Gaza, three times on 21 July, then entered the compound and forced women and children to flee on foot amid ongoing hostilities. Male staff and relatives were allegedly hand-cuffed, stripped and questioned at gunpoint, the UN agency reported. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that 32 employees and family members were later evacuated, but Israeli troops detained two WHO workers and two of their relatives. Three of the four were released, while one staff member remains in custody. WHO demanded the immediate release of the employee and the protection of all humanitarian personnel. With its main warehouse out of service and medical supplies in Gaza already depleted, the agency warned that the incident further cripples its ability to support hospitals and emergency teams. Tedros said jeopardising WHO operations “paralyses the entire health response in Gaza,” and renewed his call for a cease-fire.