UN agencies have said fuel deliveries for aid operations in Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, have been largely prohibited by Israeli authorities. This has severely hampered aid efforts and services to provide water and electricity.

There are 25 health workers and 291 patients remaining in Al-Shifa, with several patient deaths having occurred over the previous two to three days due to the shutting down of medical services, the World Health Organisation said.

Patients include 32 babies in extremely critical condition, two people in intensive care without ventilation and 22 dialysis patients whose access to life-saving treatment has been severely compromised. The vast majority of patients are victims of war trauma, WHO said.

“Over the next 24 to 72 hours, pending guarantees of safe passage by parties to the conflict, additional missions are being arranged to urgently transport patients to hospitals in southern Gaza,” it added.