Violence intensifies near Gaza City hospitals and forces a larger number of people to flee.

Intense fighting has erupted near two major hospitals in Gaza City as Israeli troops engage in battle with Hamas fighters. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claim to have raided Hamas's "military quarter" near Al-Shifa Hospital, killing 50 "terrorists" during the clashes. Witnesses have reported tanks firing near Al-Quds Hospital. Additionally, there are widespread reports of Palestinians fleeing south from Gaza City and other northern areas. The US has confirmed that it is aware Israel plans to implement four-hour "pauses" in the north each day. The French conference on Gaza has called for a ceasefire as the United Nations warns of the "intolerable" humanitarian situation. Israel has been conducting airstrikes in Gaza for over a month, with a major ground offensive launched two weeks ago in an effort to dismantle Hamas. The conflict started after a cross-border attack by Hamas gunmen on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in numerous casualties. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry has reported over 10,800 deaths and 1.5 million displaced people since then. Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in Gaza, currently houses around 2,000 patients and 50,000 displaced individuals. The dire situation has left the hospital director describing conditions as "disastrous in every sense of the word." Fierce battles have also been reported around Al-Quds Hospital. The clashes and strikes, coupled with food and water shortages, have prompted hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee to the south. The IDF has urged civilians to seek refuge in southern areas due to safety concerns, but it continues to strike areas where civilians have sought shelter. The United Nations has accused both sides involved in the conflict of committing war crimes, with UN officials calling for a ceasefire to allow for humanitarian aid delivery. Israel maintains it has acted in accordance with international law and disputes claims of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They argue that there is enough food, water, and fuel despite the siege imposed as a response to Hamas's initial attack. The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, insists that a ceasefire is necessary to facilitate the delivery of more aid, as the current volume coming through Rafah is deemed insufficient. Since the start of the conflict on October 21, a total of 756 trucks have crossed into Gaza from Egypt, compared to an average of 500 per day prior to the war.