Anticipating a fierce backlash against the hospital raid, the Israel Defense Forces has said it had given authorities in Hamas-run Gaza 12 hours’ notice that any military operation inside must cease, AFP reports.

“Unfortunately, it did not,” the Israeli military said, again calling on “all Hamas terrorists present in the hospital to surrender”.

Israeli army ground teams were said to include medics and Arabic speakers “who have undergone specified training to prepare for this complex and sensitive environment”. The “intent” was that “no harm is caused to the civilians being used by Hamas as human shields”, the Israeli military claimed.

Abul Reesh, from Gaza’s health ministry, called on “the international community and the United Nations to intervene immediately and urgently to stop the Israeli storming operation.”

He urged both to protect what he said were “20,000 people inside the hospital including medical staff and 650 ailing people and thousands of injured people.”