Hamas: ‘Hospital evacuations are war crimes’

Hamas has accused Israel of committing war crimes by ordering hospitals to leave north Gaza.

"The Israeli occupation's threats for Palestinian hospitals to evacuate amount to war crimes," the Palestinian group said in a statement shared on Telegram. 

"The Israeli occupation insists on perpetrating more atrocious crimes and massacres against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip by targeting hospitals."

It said that medical facilities were civilian places protected under international law, and urged the UN and international organisations to halt the forcible transfer.

"The Israeli occupation's request to empty hospitals amid escalating war against Gaza emphasises its criminal plans to deprive Palestinians from basic and urgent humanitarian needs - it is a war crime."

It commended the "heroic position" of hospital staff, such as those in Al-Awda Hospital, who declined to leave patients and head to south Gaza.