Israeli forces strike near hospitals as troops push further into Gaza

Growing numbers of people have been living in and around Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest, hoping it will be safer than their homes or United Nations shelters in the north, several of which have been hit repeatedly

A wounded boy is carried to safety after an Israeli strike in Deir Al-Balah, southern Gaza Strip ( AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

Israeli strikes hit near several hospitals in Gaza City early on Friday as the military pushed deeper into dense urban neighbourhoods in its battle with Hamas militants, prompting increasing numbers of civilians to flee toward the south of the besieged territory.

Israel has accused Hamas fighters of hiding in hospitals and using the Shifa Hospital complex as its main command centre, which the militant group and hospital staff deny, saying Israel is creating a pretext to strike it.