A Palestinian inspects the damage on houses destroyed during an Israeli military operation, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, July 23, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

Aug 24 (Reuters) – The World Health Organization said a staff member was released on Sunday more than four weeks after being detained in Gaza by Israeli forces.

“Extremely relieved that our colleague, detained since 21 July in Gaza, was released this morning,” agency Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on X. He reiterated a call for protection of all WHO staff and personnel, and health and humanitarian workers.

In July, the United Nations agency said the Israeli military had attacked its staff residence and main warehouse in the Gazan city of Deir al-Balah.

During that time, the WHO said that two of its staff members and two family members were detained by Israeli forces. Three were later released, while one staff member remained in detention.

Last week, a global hunger monitor determined that famine has struck an area of Gaza and would likely spread over the next month, an assessment that could escalate pressure on Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the war-torn Palestinian enclave.

The WHO describes the health sector in Gaza as being “on its knees”, with shortages of fuel, medical supplies and frequent mass casualty influxes.

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