Israeli forces encircling al-Shifa hospital as dozens buried in mass grave

Israeli military vehicles are encircling al-Shifa hospital in Gaza from all directions, amid continuous artillery shelling and heavy gunfire, Palestinian authorities in Gaza have said.

Dr Ahmad Mokhallalati, speaking from al-Shifa, told Al-Jazeera that Israeli forces have been attacking in the vicinity of the hospital for the last several hours. He described it as “continuous shooting, continuous bombing”.

Those taking refuge in the hospital have moved to the corridors of the hospital for protection, Mokhallalati said, adding that “we don’t know [where] the shooting is from… we don’t know [what] the bombardment is targeting,” he added.

There are around 633 wounded patients in al-Shifa, with 36 premature babies without incubators. The hospital has been forced to bury at least 80 Palestinians within the hospital while another 80 awaiting burial.