With Israel facing intense pressure to minimise civilian deaths and suffering, the military has announced the opening of a “self-evacuation corridor” from Al-Shifa southward.

However, it is unclear what provisions there would be for the sick and injured to be transported from the medical facility. There are hundreds of patients and thousands of displaced persons sheltering at Al-Shifa.

Earlier, the World Health Organisation said the facility had stopped operations and was “no more functioning as a hospital”.