Health ministry says Israeli tanks fire on Khan Younis hospital

GAZA — The health ministry in Gaza said Tuesday the Israeli army fired directly at a hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis, where civilians are caught amid heavy fighting.

"Israeli tanks are firing heavily on the upper floors of the specialized surgery building and the emergency building of Nasser hospital, dozens expected wounded," a ministry statement said.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond when asked by AFP about firing at the hospital.

Khan Younis has become the epicenter of fighting between Palestinian militants and Israeli soldiers, who have pressed south over nearly three months of their ground offensive.

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said one of its Khan Younis shelters for displaced people "was hit during military operations" on Monday.

"At least six displaced people were killed and many more injured during intense fighting around our the shelter," UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini wrote Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter.

As Israeli troops press on, more than a million people are now crammed into Rafah, south of Khan Younis, which abuts the Egyptian frontier.

The UN humanitarian agency described Tuesday the "indescribable pain" in Gaza where the death toll "climbs relentlessly."

"In Khan Younis, fighting escalates, destroying civilian areas and claiming lives. Attacks on health care continue to rise," OCHA wrote on X.

At least 25,490 people have been killed during hostilities in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll from the Health Ministry in Gaza.

The war broke out with Hamas' unprecedented Oct. 7 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of about 1,140 people in Israel, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.