JERUSALEM, Israel
The World Health Organization (WHO) says Israel's offensive in central Gaza has compromised its efforts to continue working, after its facilities came under attack.
The UN agency accused Israeli forces of attacking a staff residence in the city of Deir al-Balah on Monday and mistreating those sheltering there. Its main warehouse was also attacked and destroyed.
The WHO said one of its staff detained by troops during the raid on the residence was still being held and demanded their immediate release.
The Israeli military said it detained "several individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism" in the area and that most were released.
The first major Israeli ground operation in Deir al-Balah since the start of the war has displaced tens of thousands of civilians, amid warnings of a severe hunger crisis.
Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said on Tuesday 15 people, including four children, had died from malnutrition across the territory over the past 24 hours.
The UN also said it had received growing reports of children and adults suffering from malnutrition and warned that "the last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing".
On Sunday, the Israeli military ordered the immediate evacuation of six city blocks in southern Deir al-Balah, warning that it would be operating "with great force to destroy the enemy's capabilities and terrorist infrastructure".
The estimated 50,000 to 80,000 people living in the affected areas were instructed to head south towards the al-Mawasi area in the south of the territory.
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