WHO: Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital 'coming under bombardment'

The biggest hospital in the Gaza Strip was coming under bombardment on Friday, the World Health Organization said, adding that 20 hospitals in Gaza were now out of action entirely, Reuters news agency said.

Asked about the Palestinian health ministry's reports of an Israeli strike on the courtyard of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris said: "I haven't got the detail on Al-Shifa but we do know they are coming under bombardment".

Asked to elaborate, she said there was "intense violence" at the site, quoting colleagues on the ground.

Palestinian families have been sheltering at the hospital, the territory's largest, which is inside Gaza City encircled by Israeli troops.