Gaza's European Hospital in Khan Younis 'virtually empty' after Israel 'evacuation order'

Gaza's European Hospital in Khan Younis is virtually empty with staff and patients fleeing the facility after the Israeli army ordered residents in the surrounding areas to evacuate, a World Health Official spokesperson said on Tuesday.

"The hospital staff and the patients decided to already evacuate themselves," said Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative for the occupied Palestinian territories, adding that just three patients remained.

"We plea the European Gaza hospital will be spared, will be non-damaged," he told the UN press briefing, speaking by video link from Jerusalem.

Medical teams moved several patients and injured people to Nasser Hospital in central Khan Younis, according to local media reports.

Videos shared online showed the hospital's technical teams moving some medical devices and equipment out of fear that they would be damaged if the Israeli army raided the hospital.

Dr Mohammed Tahir, a surgeon from the UK volunteering in Gaza, shared on his social media page videos of the displaced people living close to the hospital dismantling their tents and attempting to evacuate the camp.

The Gaza European Hospital is one of the few hospitals operating in the Gaza Strip, as the Israeli army deliberately and systematically targeted many of Gaza’s hospitals in the course of its military operations across the enclave, rendering most of them out of service.

The Israeli army on Monday ordered residents of eastern Khan Younis to immediately leave, claiming the area has become a "dangerous combat zone".

Israel, flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since 7 October.

At least 37,925 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and around 87,060 others injured, according to local health authorities.