WHO says Gaza's Nasser hospital not functional after Israel raids

 The World Health Organization has said Gaza's Nasser hospital has ceased to function following an Israeli raid.

Israel Defense Force (IDF) troops entered the complex on Thursday, saying intelligence indicated hostages taken by Hamas were being held there.

The WHO said it had not been allowed to enter the site to assess the situation.

Israel has been focusing its campaign against Hamas in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis and has indicated it may continue south to Rafah. 

"Nasser hospital in Gaza is not functional anymore, after a week-long siege followed by the ongoing raid," head of the WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"Both yesterday and the day before, the WHO team was not permitted to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to deliver fuel alongside partners," he said.

"There are still about 200 patients in the hospital. At least 20 need to be urgently referred to other hospitals to receive health care; medical referral is every patient's right."

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza says only four medical staff were left in the hospital trying to care for the remaining patients.

Fighting has raged around the Nasser site for weeks. Israel has repeatedly claimed Hamas is using hospitals, along with schools, as operational bases.

The Israeli military says it has killed about 20 Hamas fighters and seized numerous weapons in the area of the hospital.

"Over the past day, dozens of terrorists were eliminated and large quantities of weapons were seized," the IDF said.

FULL ARTICLE AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-68330579