Germany 'deeply shocked' by hundreds of deaths in Gaza hospital attack

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The German Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it is deeply shocked by reports of hundreds of deaths at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza.

"Civilian targets, notably a fully operational hospital with patients and health personnel, must not be attacked by anyone under any circumstances," the ministry posted on X.

"Civilians must be protected in conflict," it added.

More than 500 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the hospital late Tuesday, Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra told Anadolu.

It comes on day 11 of the conflict, with a growing international chorus of non-governmental groups and world leaders saying the Israeli bombing campaign on the besieged Gaza Strip -- including healthcare facilities, homes and houses of worship -- violates international law and may constitute a war crime.

The Palestinian group Hamas called the targeting of the hospital an act of "genocide."