The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, warned of what he described as a "bloodbath" if Israel carried out a military attack on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

In a post on the “X” platform, Ghebreyesus said, “The organization is deeply concerned about this operation, which further weakens the already broken health system,” and called for a ceasefire.

For her part, Executive Director of the World Food Program, Cindy McCain, said, “There is widespread famine in northern Gaza, spreading toward the south,” expressing her hope that the parties will reach a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible.

In statements to NBC, McCain said, "When you have conflicts like this, and emotions run high, and things happen in war, famine happens."

She added, "What we are constantly calling for is a ceasefire, and facilitating the unhindered access of aid to people in Gaza. I hope that the parties will reach a ceasefire so that more aid can be delivered quickly."