Dozens of people have been killed following Israeli strikes in Gaza, including at hospitals, as a United Nations chief warns action is needed to “prevent genocide”.
On Wednesday morning, Israeli airstrikes hit homes in Jabalia, in northern Gaza, killing at least 53 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Indonesian Hospital said 22 of those who died were children.
The Israeli military refused to comment on the strikes, but had warned local residents to evacuate late on Tuesday night due to Hamas infrastructure in the area, including rocket launchers.
On Tuesday, nine missiles hit the European Hospital and its courtyard in the south of the Palestinian territory, killing at least 16 people, the Gaza health ministry said.
Israel said it had hit a “Hamas command centre” beneath the hospital in Khan Younis. Hamas denies exploiting hospitals and civilian properties for military purposes.
Tom Fletcher, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, accused Israel of “deliberately and unashamedly” imposing inhumane conditions on Palestinians by blocking aid from entering Gaza more than 10 weeks ago.
