The Israeli army has denied telling the World Health Organisation to empty an aid warehouse in southern Gaza within 24 hours before ground operations in the area render it unusable, AFP reports.

“The truth is that we didn’t ask you to evacuate the warehouses and we also made it clear (and in writing) to the relevant #UN representatives,” the Israeli defence ministry body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs, COGAT said on X, formerly Twitter.

“From a #UN official we would expect, at least, to be more accurate,” it added.