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WHO 'terribly worried' as battle rages at Gaza's largest hospital
The World Health Organization chiefvoiced alarm Monday after Israeli forces launched an operation at Gaza'slargest hospital, Al-Shifa, warning the fighting was "endangering healthworkers, patients and civilians".
"We are terribly worried about the situation at Al-Shifa Hospital innorthern Gaza," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X, formerly Twitter."Hospitals should never be battlegrounds."
Israeli forces launched a pre-dawn raid on the hospital, based on what thearmy termed intelligence "indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamasterrorists".
The health ministry of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said residents near thehospital had reported dozens of casualties who could not be helped "due to theintensity of gunfire and artillery shelling".
The Hamas government media office condemned as a "war crime" the "stormingof the Al-Shifa medical complex with tanks, drones and weapons, and shootinginside". It said thousands of displaced Palestinians were sheltering there.
Hospitals -- protected under international humanitarian law -- have beenhit repeatedly during Israeli strikes on Gaza since the war erupted on October7.
The Israeli military accuses Hamas of using medical facilities as commandcentres, a charge it denies.
The Israeli army had previously raided Al-Shifa in November, sparking aninternational outcry, in an operation in which it said its troops had foundweapons and other military equipment in rooms in and below the hospital.
Tedros pointed out Monday that Al-Shifa had "only recently restored minimalhealth services".
"Any hostilities or militarisation of the facility jeopardise healthservices, access for ambulances, and delivery of life-saving supplies," hewarned.
"Hospitals must be protected. Ceasefire!"
The Gaza war broke out after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack onOctober 7 that resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians,according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.
The Islamist militants also seized about 250 hostages, of whom Israelbelieves 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 who are presumed dead, reports BSS.
Israel, vowing to destroy Hamas and free the captives, has carried out arelentless bombing campaign and ground offensive that Gaza's health ministrysays has killed at least 31,726 people, mostly women and children.