(Credit:  ©WHO)    Al Shifa hospital is being used as shelter for displaced families in Gaza.

By   Gary   Raynaldo     –     DIPLOMATIC    TIMES

UNITED  NATIONS     –    NEW   YORK   –    Senior UN officials said on Saturday said there could be no justification for any “acts of war” in or around any healthcare facilities, amidst reports that Gaza’s largest hospital has come under attack by Israeli forces as they battle Palestinian militants. The Israeli military in a statement denied that it had targeted Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, which they claim is above a Hamas command post, but have acknowledged that fighting is happening “around” the facility. UN relief and humanitarian affairs chief, Martin Griffiths, tweeted that in light of “horrific reports of attacks”, there could be “no justification for acts of war in healthcare facilities leaving them with no power, food or water and shooting at patients and civilians trying to flee. The hospital has reportedly run out of water, food and electricity.

“This is unconscionable, reprehensible and must stop. Hospitals much be places of greater safety and those who need them must trust that they are places of shelter and not of war.”

– UN relief and humanitarian affairs chief, Martin Griffiths

Latest figures from  OCHA, sourcing the health ministry in Gaza – which the UN regards as reliable – report that more than 10,800 have been killed in the enclave since the 7 October attacks and more than 26,900 injured.