Dr Hussam Abu Safia, the director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital, has issued a new statement calling for an end to Israel’s monthlong siege on northern Gaza and accusing it of waging a “war of extermination” in the area, Al Jazeera reports.

“We are witnessing alarming cases of malnutrition among children and adults, and we are struggling to provide even one meal a day for hospital workers, amidst a severe shortage of food and medical supplies,” he said in a statement.

“We urgently call for the provision of essential supplies and ambulance services, in addition to lifting the siege on northern Gaza,” he said.

The paediatrician described “unbearable” conditions in the north, saying Israel’s systematic attack on the health system means “lives are being lost every day due to lack of specialized care and resources”.