UPDATE - Hospitals in Gaza 'must be protected,' says US president

ADDS DETAILS THROUGHOUT

By Diyar Guldogan and Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden on Monday said the Gaza Strip's main al-Shifa Hospital "must be protected," and that he hopes for "less intrusive action" by Israel as its ground invasion nears the facility.

"Well, as we know, I have not been reluctant expressing my concerns with what's going on. My hope and expectation is that there will be less intrusive action relative to hospitals and we remain in contact with the Israelis," Biden said at the Oval Office. "So I remain somewhat hopeful but hospitals must be protected."

The vicinity of the hospital came under Israeli heavy airstrikes, including several airstrikes within the al-Shifa compound itself, since last week. The Israeli military alleged that Hamas has an underground command center located under the hospital, an accusation categorically denied by the Palestinian group.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Washington wants "to see patients protected. We want to see hospitals protected."

"We have spoken with the Israeli Government about this and they have said they share that view that they do not want to see firefights in hospitals," he told reporters at the White House.

"Hospitals should be protected. Hospitals should be able to run effectively so that medical care can be given to patients. And finally, to the extent people need to be evacuated from one hospital to another hospital in order to ensure the continuation of care, evacuation routes have to be safe and the Israeli government has told us as recently as today, that there are, and will continue to be, evacuation routes for people leaving hospital compounds," he added.

As the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip entered its 38th day, at least 11,180 Palestinians have been killed, including over 7,700 children and women, and more than 28,200 others have been injured, according to the latest figures from Palestinian authorities in the coastal enclave.

Thousands of buildings, including hospitals, mosques and churches, have also been damaged or destroyed in Israel's relentless air and ground attacks on the besieged enclave since last month.

The Israeli death toll from Hamas' Oct. 7 cross-border attack, meanwhile, is nearly 1,200, according to official figures. Israel on Friday revised down its earlier estimate of over 1,400 killed.