The Palestinian health ministry in Gaza has warned of a “health catastrophe” in the besieged enclave and said Israeli forces are “deliberately” maintaining the collapse of hospitals across the enclave.

“We warn of a health catastrophe as a result of hospitals turning into shelter centres, housing tens of thousands of displaced people in unsanitary conditions that have caused the spread of epidemics and infectious diseases,” the ministry said in a statement, Al Jazeera reports.

It called on “all parties” to adopt immediate measures to salvage what is left of the healthcare system, and urged neighbouring Egypt to open the Rafah border crossing for medical aid and fuel.