The World Health Organisation (WHO) has accused Israel of barring medical specialists from entering Gaza to support clinics in the besieged enclave.

The WHO said since August, eight organisations and over 50 specialised personnel had been affected by Israel’s blockade.

The specialists were intended to provide crucial support for various medical services, as well as psychological support for healthcare workers at facilities including the European Gaza Hospital and the Nasser Hospital, the WHO said.

It was reported that among the organisations denied entry was the U.S.non-profit Palestinian American Medical Association, which supports Palestinians in need of medical care.

According to the WHO, this marks the first instance in which Israel has denied entire organisations the ability to participate in relief efforts for the Gaza Strip.

The WHO reported that in the past week, support teams conducted 25 per cent fewer operations than usual.

With only 17 out of 36 clinics and 43 medical practices remaining partially operational, the WHO emphasised the irreplaceable role of these external teams in providing essential medical services.

The WHO called for full access for emergency aid teams. (dpa/NAN)

It is Germany’s responsibility to make sure that a war between Russia and Ukraine does not become a war between Russia and NATO, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

He said this as he repeated his “nein” to sending long-range weapons to Kiev.

“I don’t consider this to be a proper delivery and that’s how it will stay,” Scholz said after a European Union summit in Brussels.

Scholz rejected key points in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “victory plan” out of concerns of future escalation.

Zelensky presented his “victory plan” at the meeting and called on Scholz, again to send him Taurus cruise missiles.

The Ukrainian leader believes a deterrent missile arsenal could force Russia into peace negotiations.

Scholz also maintained his stance against a quick invitation for Ukraine to join NATO, as outlined in Zelensky’s plan.

The United States also opposes a fast-track NATO entry for Ukraine.

The chancellor referred to the resolutions of the most recent NATO summit in Washington, which offers Ukraine a general assurance that it could no longer be stopped on its way into the defence alliance.

He further said all allies must agree that NATO conditions are met for an invitation.

These include reforms in the areas of democracy, the economy and the security sector.

Scholz also used the occasion to take a swipe at his main opposition in the Bundestag or German parliament, Christian Democratic (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz.

He complained that Merz flip-flopped on Taurus deliveries, taking a no-delivery position before key elections in east Germany and changing his position after that. (dpa/NAN)

  Israel’s Army Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi has referred to October 7, 2023, as the day “when we failed in our mission to protect the citizens of the State of Israel.”

In a letter to Israeli soldiers marking the anniversary of the brutal attack on Israel, he wrote that “Oct.

On October 7, 2023, terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and abducted about 250 more as hostages to the Gaza Strip.

This triggered the Gaza war, in which, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority, some 42,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, mostly civilians.

Halevi said that Hamas’ military wing had been defeated, but that the fight against the organisation’s terrorist structures would continue.

With regard to the fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon, he said that the militia had been dealt a serious blow.

“We will not stop,” Halevi emphasised.

“We are destroying our enemies’ capabilities, and we will ensure that these capabilities are not rebuilt, so that Oct. 7 is never repeated,” he added. (dpa/NAN)