Fighting back tears, the head of the World Health Organisation has urged Israel to have “mercy” in Gaza and insisted peace would be in Israel’s own interests, AFP reports.

In an emotional intervention at the WHO annual assembly, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who has often recalled his own wartime upbringing in Ethiopia, said, “I can feel how people in Gaza would feel at the moment. I can smell it. I can visualise it. I can hear even the sounds. And this is because of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).”

“You can imagine how people are suffering. It’s really wrong to weaponise food. It’s very wrong to weaponise medical supplies.”

Tedros said only a political solution could bring a meaningful peace.