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Fighting back tears, WHO chief begs Israel to show 'mercy' in Gaza
The Straits Times
|May 24, 2025
Fighting back tears, the head of the World Health Organisation on May 22 urged Israel to have "mercy" in the Gaza war, and insisted peace would be in Israel's own interests.
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GENEVA - Fighting back tears, the head of the World Health Organisation on May 22 urged Israel to have "mercy" in the Gaza war, and insisted peace would be in Israel's own interests.
In an emotional intervention at the WHO annual assembly, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the war was hurting Israel and would not bring a lasting solution.
"I can feel how people in Gaza would feel at the moment. I can smell it. I can visualise it. I can hear even the sounds. And this is because of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)," said Dr Tedros, 60, who has often recalled his own wartime upbringing in Ethiopia.
"You can imagine how people are suffering. It is really wrong to weaponise food. It is very wrong to weaponise medical supplies."
This story is from the May 24, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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