(LONDON) -- The World Health Organization's staff residence in Deir al Balah, Gaza, was attacked three times by the Israel Defense Forces, WHO officials said in a statement.
The Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward Al-Mawasi, according to the Tuesday statement. The WHO said male staffers and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot and screened at gunpoint.
Three staff members were detained, two of which were later released, the WHO said in a statement.
The statement released by the IDF on Tuesday described military action, including detaining "several individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism," although it was not immediately clear whether it was detailing its interaction with WHO staff.
The statement said IDF troops were fired on "in the Deir al Balah area, and responded toward the area from which the shooting originated."
The IDF added in its statement that it is sometimes "necessary for individuals suspected of terrorist activity to temporarily remove parts of their clothing in order to ensure that they are not concealing explosive belts or other weapons."
"WHO condemns in the strongest terms the attacks on a building housing WHO staff in Deir al Balah in Gaza, the mistreatment of those sheltering there, and the destruction of its main warehouse," WHO said.
The IDF released a statement on Tuesday on social media about its military action in Deir al Balah. The IDF statement, which was released after the WHO statement, didn't mention the WHO by name, but said the Israeli military had been "in contact" with international organizations prior to the start of its action in Deir Al Balah.
"We emphasize that the IDF maintains continuous and consistent contact with the international organizations, and throughout the war, the IDF has facilitated the safe evacuations of their personnel from evacuated areas, in coordination with the troops and in accordance with operational requirements," the IDF said in its statement.
Most of the WHO's staff housing was inaccessible after the attacks, the organization said in its statement, adding that at least 43 staff members and their families were relocated from several staff residences to the WHO office "under darkness and at significant risk."
"WHO is appalled by the dangerous conditions under which humanitarians and health workers are forced to operate," WHO officials said on Tuesday. "As the security situation and access continue to deteriorate, red lines are repeatedly crossed, and humanitarian operations pushed into an ever-shrinking space to respond."
The organization added, "We reiterate our call for the active protection of civilians, health care and its premises and for rapid and unimpeded flow of aid, including food, fuel and health supplies, at scale into and across Gaza."
The IDF said it "should be emphasized that the suspects are treated in accordance with international law."
WHO officials in their statement said the organization had shared the coordinates of all its premises, including its warehouses and staff housing, with "the relevant parties." But the group said its main warehouse filled with medical supplies was targeted, causing "explosions and fire inside," and later looted "by desperate crowds."
"Any threat to these premises is a threat to the entire humanitarian health response in Gaza," the organization said.
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