Operations at Gaza's Al Shifa hospital - the largest in the territory - have been suspended after it ran out of fuel. 

Hospitals in Gaza have been caught in deadly crossfires between Hamas and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) as conflict in the region deepens. 

Staff and patients were forced to flee Al Shifa hospital after missile strikes last night, which Israel is blaming on misfired rockets from Palestinian militants. 

The hospital holds 700 beds and provides emergency and surgical care. 

Doctors Without Borders (DWB) said the strikes have resulted in “multiple deaths and injuries”. 

It said it was unable to contact any of its staff in Al Shifa and it is “extremely concerned about the safety of patients and the medical staff”. 

One nurse texted from within the hospital: “We are being killed here, please do something.” 

'We cannot leave'

Dr Mohammed Obei is a surgeon in Al Shifa and said there is not enough ambulances to evacuate patients. 

“We cannot leave because from the morning until now, we operated on [about] 25 patients,” he said. 

“If I am not here or the other surgeon, who will take care of the patients? 

“As a doctor, I swear to help the people who need help. So, if they want to bomb me, I will not be better than the others." 

DWB has said there are currently no other facilities in the Gaza Strip than Al Shifa “able to admit and treat as many patients with complex, sometimes life-threatening injuries”. 

Head of Mission in the Occupied Palestinian Territories Ann Taylor called on the Israel Government to “cease this unrelenting assault on Gaza’s health system”. 

DWB said patients’ lives will continue to be at risk until a “complete ceasefire” is called. 

“This can only be done with a total ceasefire and the unconditional supply of humanitarian aid including access to food, fuel and water; the survival of people in Gaza depends on this,” it said. 

Humanitarian pause in Gaza

The United States confirmed this week Israel had established four-hour “humanitarian pauses” along the Salah al-Din Road to let civilians leave Gaza. 

Government advisor Mark Regev, however, said this humanitarian corridor is not a ceasefire. 

“We will continue this operation until we have destroyed Hamas’ military machine,” he said. 

“The idea of a humanitarian pause is in a specific place for a specific time to help the civilian population who are not the target of our operation.”