An Israeli air strike hit one of Gaza’s few functioning hospitals, resulting in the death of a child according to the World Health Organisation, as Israel warned it would expand its offensive if Hamas does not release hostages, AFP reports.

Since the outbreak of the conflict, tens of thousands of Gazans have sought refuge in hospitals, many of which have suffered severe damage in the ongoing hostilities.

“A child died due to disruption of care” at the Al-Ahli Hospital in northern Gaza after a strike, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.

“The emergency room, laboratory, emergency room X-ray machines and the pharmacy were destroyed,” he added. “The hospital was forced to move 50 patients to other hospitals. 40 critical patients couldn’t be moved.”

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