Attacks on medics and health facilities in “war zones” jumped in 2023 to the highest level since records began 11 years ago, a group of non-governmental organisations said, with nearly half attributed to state forces, Reuters reports.

The Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition, composed of 40 groups including medical charities, reported 2,562 incidents of violence or obstructions including arrests, killings and kidnappings of doctors and strikes across hospitals in 30 conflicts including Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan.

The coalition attributed 489 incidents in Gaza last year to Israeli forces, including medic deaths or injuries and strikes or raids on hospitals.