ISRAEL has been accused of the war crime of deliberately targeting medical facilities, with missile strikes destroying hospitals, clinics and killing medics during its attack on Gaza.

Palestinian Ministry of Health spokesman Dr Medhat Abbas made the accusation as he spoke to the Morning Star.

He said that Israel had “totally annihilated” two primary care centres and had caused partial damage to two hospitals, Beit Hanoun and the Indonesian Hospital, in Gaza.

“They killed two doctors, one psychiatrist and the chief internal medical consultant,” Dr Abbas said. “Murdered while in their homes with their families.”

The head of Gaza’s coronavirus response team, Dr Ayman Abu al-Ouf, was killed along with his entire family by an Israeli missile early this week.

During bombing raids on Monday, Israel seriously damaged Gaza’s only coronavirus testing lab after the building opposite was destroyed.

The deliberate targeting of health workers and medical facilities has long been considered a war crime.

Despite the ongoing assault, the US has blocked the UN security council from making a ceasefire statement three times in the past week.

China has meanwhile offered to host peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders after urging Washington to “fulfill its responsibilities.”