GENEVA 

A recent attack on the European Gaza Hospital reportedly killed six people and injured 40 others just as the World Health Organization (WHO) staff and patients were gathering for a planned medical evacuation, the UN health agency's chief said on Thursday.

Noting that the attack took place on Tuesday, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X that the hospital -- where 12 WHO staff members and 284 patients and their companions were assembled -- was struck ahead of a "pre-coordinated medical evacuation."

While the evacuation group itself was unharmed, others in the hospital were caught in the violence, Tedros said.

"Despite the high-risk conditions, WHO successfully carried out the medical evacuation yesterday to Italy, Türkiye, Romania, Jordan, and the UAE via the Kerem Shalom crossing," he said.

He added that renewed hostilities near the hospital on Thursday morning "terrified" staff and patients, and obstructed access to the facility.

"Hospitals must be safeguarded so they can serve their life-saving function. They must never be militarized or targeted," the WHO chief stressed.

The WHO has repeatedly warned of the severe strain Gaza's health system is under amid the ongoing conflict, with many facilities damaged or forced out of service.