Sunday 08/February/2026 – 12:56 AM
The Egyptian delegation achieved a new diplomatic victory within the corridors of the Executive Council of the World Health Organization, after its success in thwarting Israel’s attempts to hold Egypt responsible for the deteriorating health conditions in the Gaza Strip and obstructing the evacuation of the wounded and injured.
Thwarting attempts to hold Cairo responsible for delaying the evacuation of Gaza casualties
The source familiar with the Council’s work told Cairo 24 that Israel sought during the Council’s discussions to cast doubt on the World Health Organization’s report on the health situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, describing it as outdated, inaccurate and politicized, in an attempt to weaken its content and reduce the extent of the violations to which the Palestinian health sector is exposed.
The source added that the Israeli delegation made direct accusations against Egypt, claiming that it was the reason for closing the crossings and delaying the exit of the injured from Gaza. However, the Egyptian response was strong, direct and documented, and clearly revealed the extent of the Israeli practices that led to an almost complete collapse of the health system inside the Gaza Strip, including targeting medical facilities and preventing the arrival of supplies and humanitarian teams.
He explained that the Egyptian representatives affirmed, during their speech before the Executive Council, Cairo’s full commitment to facilitating the entry of humanitarian and medical aid, and receiving the wounded and injured, stressing that Israeli restrictions are the main reason for the aggravation of the health and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The source pointed out that Israel tried, during the same session, to direct the focus of the discussion away from Gaza, by declaring what it described as solidarity with the Iranian people and expressing concern about Iranian casualties, asking the Director-General of the World Health Organization to provide reassurances about the health conditions in Iran, before launching accusations that the source described as arbitrary against Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
The isolation of the Israeli position within the Executive Council of the World Health Organization
At the conclusion of the discussions, members of the Executive Council of the World Health Organization voted in favor of maintaining the health situation in the occupied Palestinian territories as an ongoing emergency, in a vote that reflected the isolation of the Israeli position within the Council.
The result of the vote was as follows:
Approval: Australia, Barbados, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, North Korea, Egypt, El Salvador, Japan, Lebanon, Nepal, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, Zimbabwe.
Objection: Israel.
abstention: Cape Verde (Cabo Verde), Cameroon, Lesotho, Panama.
Not voting: Haiti, Comoros, Togo.
The source stressed that this vote represents a clear message of the international community’s rejection of attempts to falsify facts, and in support of continuing to deal with the health crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories as a humanitarian emergency that requires urgent and continuous intervention.
