Dr Margaret Harris from the World Health Organization called the deaths of 685 healthcare workers in Gaza “shocking”. More than 900 other medical staff have been wounded since Israel’s war began in October.

“Since we began documenting this, the numbers have risen rapidly. This was one of the first agreements around the rules of war: that healthcare must be protected because it is a basic human right,” Harris told Al Jazeera.

“The destruction is making it harder and harder for those simply trying to provide life-saving care to a large population of people.”

She noted healthcare workers are also “desperately hungry and without water”.

“Starvation is stalking every doorway in Gaza,” said Harris.

The International Committee of the Red Cross also says there is not enough access to safe water and medical care in the coastal enclave, adding that more than 1.6 million people were now residing in Rafah.

“Some families receive a can of food every other day for the whole family,” the group posted on X.

A recent UN-backed report found the entire Gaza population is experiencing a food shortage as Israel is accused of provoking famine.