The gun battles and intense bombardment around the Al-Shifa hospital came as Israel pressed deep into Gaza City in its offensive aimed at destroying the militant group Hamas in the territory it rules.
«Shooting is never stopping, airstrikes are unabated as well as artillery shells,» said a witness who spoke on condition of anonymity. «There are dozens of bodies around the complex that nobody can reach.»
Though tens of thousands of people have fled the fighting, many have taken shelter in northern Gaza's hospitals which have been repeatedly hit by explosive strikes and gunfire.
«The hospital is besieged, with no option to bring in the corpses and injured people sprawled outside.