Israel-Hamas war live: WHO calls al-Shifa hospital a 'death zone'

The World Health Organization said it had led an assessment mission to al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City and determined it was a "death zone" and pushed for a full evacuation of the facility.

"WHO and partners are urgently developing plans for the immediate evacuation of the remaining patients, staff and their families," the United Nations health agency said in a statement, adding that 291 patients and 25 health workers remained inside the hospital.

WHO said this was a high-risk operation in an active conflict zone, with heavy fighting ongoing in close proximity to the hospital. Its team was able to spend only one hour inside the hospital.

According to WHO, the team saw a mass grave at the entrance of the hospital and was told more than 80 people were buried there.

WHO called for "an immediate cease-fire, the sustained flow of humanitarian assistance at scale, unhindered humanitarian access to all of those in need, the unconditional release of all hostages, and the cessation of attacks on health care and other vital infrastructure."

Israel has repeatedly accused Hamas militants of operating from tunnels beneath the vast hospital complex.

The White House, relying on US intelligence, has supported Israel's claims, saying that Hamas was storing weapons and operating a command node from the hospital in Gaza.

Hamas has denied having any military presence at the hospital.

Netanyahu, White House: no hostage deal yet

Following a report in the Washington Post that Israel and Hamas have tentatively agreed a five-day ceasefire in return for the liberation of dozens of women and children held hostage in Gaza (see below), both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US officials have insisted that no deal has yet been reached.

"Concerning the hostages, there are many unsubstantiated rumors, many incorrect reports," Netanyahu told a press conference on Saturday evening, adding: "I would like to make it clear: As of now, there has been no deal. But I want to promise: When there is something to say – we will report to you about it."

White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson also played down the report, writing on X, formerly Twitter: "We have not reached a deal yet, but we continue to work hard to get to a deal."

A second US official also said no deal had been reached, according to the Reuters news agency.