WHO says large Gaza medical shipments wait a median 74 days for Israeli clearance
The WHO's representative for the Palestinian territories told reporters in Geneva that large volumes of medical supplies for Gaza wait a median of 74 days for Israeli clearance, and that no Gaza hospital is fully functional. Israel says it blocks items with possible military use.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2The World Health Organization said on Friday 2 October that large volumes of medical supplies for Gaza wait a median of 74 days, about two and a half months, for clearance by Israeli authorities. Anadolu AgencyN “Large volumes of medical supplies meant for Gaza wait a median of 74 days for clearance by Israeli authorities, the World Health Organization said Friday” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Hindustan TimesN “large volumes of medical supplies wait for clearance for a median of 74 days” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 2Reinhilde Van de Weerdt, the WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, told reporters in Geneva that no hospital in Gaza is fully functional. Anadolu AgencyN ““Not one hospital in Gaza is fully functional,” Reinhilde Van De Weerdt, WHO representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, told reporters in Geneva.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Hindustan TimesN “with none of its hospitals fully functional” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 1She said chronic shortages of medicines and supplies remain a major obstacle to restoring health services, even though a year has passed since the ceasefire was announced. Anadolu AgencyN “chronic shortages of medicines and medical supplies remain a major obstacle to restoring health services, despite a year having passed since the ceasefire was announced” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 2Van de Weerdt described Israel's approval system as laborious, time-consuming and without guaranteed results, and said that if a shipment is not approved the process starts over. She added that the system kept changing, with new regulations introduced. Hindustan TimesN “"It is laborious, time-consuming, with no guaranteed results," she said.”“She added that the approval system kept changing, with new regulations introduced.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Anadolu AgencyN ““If the shipment hasn't been approved, then we start that lengthy, cumbersome process all over again with no guarantees for a different outcome,” she said.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 2Medicines have an approval rate of almost 87 percent, with about one percent rejected, she said, but medical equipment such as X-ray machines, sterilisation equipment and spare parts for CT scanners is regularly rejected, often with no explanation. Anadolu AgencyN “Medicines have an approval rate of nearly 87%, while medical equipment – including X-ray machines, sterilization equipment, and spare parts for CT scanners – is regularly rejected, she said, "often with no explanation given."” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Hindustan TimesN “with almost 87 percent approved and one percent rejected” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 1AFP's report adds that standard health kits had the lowest approval rate, and that one shipment of prosthetics and assistive devices was rejected four times in the last six months. Hindustan TimesN “"In just the last six months alone, one shipment of prosthetics and assistive devices was rejected four separate times,"” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Centre · 1Van de Weerdt said collecting supplies at the Kerem Shalom crossing requires WHO teams to travel in armoured vehicles through an area controlled by the Israeli military, and that the process must be coordinated with Israeli authorities, with frequent delays in getting the green light. Anadolu AgencyN “collecting medical supplies from the Kerem Shalom crossing requires WHO teams to travel through an area controlled by the Israeli military using armored vehicles and personal protective equipment”“teams often face delays in receiving the green light” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 2The WHO called for unimpeded and predictable entry of humanitarian and health supplies at scale, the use of multiple crossings and clear, published guidance on procedures. Van de Weerdt said the number of trucks crossing says almost nothing about whether health needs are met. Anadolu AgencyN “The WHO called for the “unimpeded and predictable” entry of humanitarian and health supplies into Gaza at scale and the use of multiple crossings.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Hindustan TimesN “Van de Weerdt called for more crossings into the territory to be opened, and for "clear, published guidance" on processes and requirements.”“insisting that it says "almost nothing about whether people's actual health needs are being met"” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Centre · 1Israel says it is preventing the entry of items that could also have military use, and accuses Hamas of plotting further violence, according to AFP. Hindustan TimesN “Israel says it is preventing the entry of items that could also have military use as it accuses Hamas” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Centre · 1AFP gives context: Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack killed 1,221 people by its tally of official Israeli figures, and Israel's offensive has killed more than 74,000 people according to Gaza's health ministry, whose figures the UN considers reliable. Hindustan TimesN “which resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures”“killed more than 74,000 people, according to Gaza's health ministry, which is under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations” Read at Hindustan Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets relay the WHO briefing on the delays, led by the 74-day median wait and Van de Weerdt's quotes. Anadolu stresses field logistics at Kerem Shalom; AFP, carried by Hindustan Times, adds Israel's stated security rationale and war casualty context.
- Emphasis
- Anadolu: the WHO's description of the clearance process and security risks for its teams. AFP: the layered system of delays, rejection examples and the point that truck counts are a poor measure.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Anadolu includes no Israeli response or context on Israel's security reasons. AFP gives no detail on the Kerem Shalom convoy conditions.
- Charged language
- “delay after delay”“lengthy, cumbersome process”“very, very precarious”
- For example
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““Not one hospital in Gaza is fully functional,”” — Anadolu Agency
“It's not one single blockage. It's a system, layered with delay after delay” — Hindustan Times
Right1 outlet
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- WHO's Reinhilde Van de Weerdt briefed reporters in Geneva on Friday 2 October.
- Large volumes of medical supplies wait a median of 74 days for Israeli clearance.
- No hospital in Gaza is fully functional.
- Medicines are approved at about 87 percent, while equipment such as X-ray machines, sterilisation equipment and CT scanner parts is regularly rejected.
- WHO calls for unimpeded, predictable entry of aid at scale.
World Health Organization organisation
The WHO says Israel's clearance system is a slow, shifting bottleneck that leaves medicines near expiry and equipment at risk of damage, and it urges unimpeded, predictable entry at scale through multiple crossings.
“The WHO called for the “unimpeded and predictable” entry of humanitarian and health supplies into Gaza at scale and the use of multiple crossings.” — Anadolu Agency
“Israel's approval system for medical and other humanitarian supplies was proving a major bottleneck.” — Hindustan Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Large volumes of medical supplies for Gaza face wait times of 74 days for Israeli clearance: WHO
Neutral Reports the WHO's figures and warnings in detail, with no Israeli response.
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Hindustan TimesN · · via AFP
WHO decries delays getting aid into Gaza
Neutral AFP wire copy that relays the WHO criticism and adds Israel's stated reason and casualty context.
Right1 article
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Arab NewsRC · · via AFP
- 2 Oct 10:49 First Anadolu AgencyN Large volumes of medical supplies for Gaza face wait times of 74 days for Israeli clearance: WHO
- 2 Oct 22:01 +11h 12m Hindustan TimesN WHO decries delays getting aid into Gaza via AFP
- 2 Oct 23:20 +12h 31m Arab NewsRC WHO decries delays getting aid into Gaza via AFP
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.