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The Israeli army has fired directly at a hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis, where civilians are caught amid heavy fighting, the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza said on Tuesday.

Israeli tanks were "firing heavily on the upper floors of the specialised surgery building and the emergency building of Nasser hospital, dozens expected wounded", a ministry statement said.

Israeli forces were cutting off Nasser medical complex, putting the lives of staff, personnel and displaced people at risk, the ministry said.

"Medical staff are unable to transport serious cases from Nasser medical complex to the Jordanian field hospital nearby as a result of relentless bombardment," a second ministry statement said.

The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said one of its Khan Younis shelters for displaced people "was hit during military operations" on Monday.

"At least six displaced people were killed and many more injured during intense fighting" around the facility, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini wrote Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter.

One of the largest shelters in Khan Younis (southern ) was hit during military operations yesterday.

At least 6 displaced people were killed and many more injured during intense fighting around our the shelter.

Terrified staff, patients and displaced people are now…

— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini)

The UN humanitarian agency described on Tuesday the "indescribable pain" in Gaza where the death toll "climbs relentlessly".

"In Khan Younis, fighting escalates, destroying civilian areas and claiming lives. Attacks on health care continue to rise," OCHA wrote on X.

At least 25,490 people have been killed during hostilities in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll from Gaza's health ministry.