Israeli forces have entered Gaza’s largest hospital, saying they’re targeting a Hamas command centre they allege is located below thousands of ailing and sheltering civilians.

Youssef Abul Reesh, an official from the Gaza health ministry who is inside the hospital, told AFP he could see tanks inside the complex and “dozens of soldiers and commandos inside the emergency and reception buildings”.

After sharp warnings from the United States that Al-Shifa hospital “must be protected”, Israel insisted the raid was being executed based on intelligence and “an operational necessity”.

Witnesses have described conditions as horrific, with medical procedures taking place without anaesthetic, families with scant food or water living in corridors, and the stench of decomposing corpses filling the air.

“There are bodies littered in the hospital complex and there is no longer electricity at the morgues,” said hospital director Mohammad Abu Salmiya.