UK urges all parties to adhere to int'l humanitarian law after deadly Israeli airstrike on Gaza hospital

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - The UK on Monday reiterated its call on all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law, saying that the death and destruction in Gaza is "intolerable."

“The death and destruction in Gaza is intolerable. The fighting must stop now," a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a statement sent to Anadolu.

These remarks came in response to a question following horrific footage of a woman and child who were filmed burning to death after Israel bombed tents sheltering displaced civilians in the courtyard of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza.

"Our priority remains achieving a ceasefire in Gaza - hostages must be released, civilians protected and aid flood in," the statement added.

"All parties must adhere to international humanitarian law,” it noted.

Four people were killed and 40 others injured when Israeli warplanes hit a hospital courtyard in the central city of Deir al-Balah, burning 30 tents where people were sleeping.

It followed the death of 22 people, including 15 children, in another airstrike on a UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) school sheltering displaced civilians in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.

Israeli warplanes bombed the tents of displaced civilians in the hospital compound before on Jan. 10, March 13, July 22, Aug. 4, and Sept. 27.

Over the last year, Israel has killed more than 42,000 Palestinians in Gaza and displaced nearly the entire population of 2.3 million people, while also generating famine-like conditions and spread of disease. It is now also conducting air and ground raids in Lebanon.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the Gaza Strip amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.

Mediation efforts led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar to reach a Gaza cease-fire and prisoner swap agreement between Israel and Hamas have failed over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to halt the war.

Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.