WASHINGTON

The US on Friday said hospitals should not be "active scenes of combat and conflict" after Israeli army's burning of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza Strip, and forcibly removing its patients and medical staff, causing several deaths.

"Hospitals should not be active scenes of combat and conflict. People should be able to be able to feel safe going to a hospital, get the medical care that they desperately need," White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.

Kirby, however, reiterated the Israeli claims that Hamas is using civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals to "store caches of weapons, to house fighters, to plan and coordinate."

Kirby refused to speak of the particular strike on the Kamal Adwan hospital.

The Israeli army said it is conducting "targeted operations" in the area while mitigating harm to civilians, a claim rebuffed by local sources.

Earlier in the day, a medical source from Kamal Adwan Hospital told Anadolu that the Israeli army set fire to several hospital sections.

In a statement, the Health Ministry in the enclave described the Israeli act as "a heinous war crime." It held Israel accountable for the safety of the hospital's patients and medical staff.

According to the source, Israel threatened the hospital’s director, Hossam Abu Safiya, with arrest if the hospital was not fully evacuated.

The source also confirmed that several patients died in the ICU after the Israeli army cut off their oxygen supply.

Israel launched a large-scale ground offensive in northern Gaza on Oct. 5 to allegedly prevent the Palestinian group Hamas from regrouping. Palestinians, however, accuse Israel of seeking to occupy the area and forcibly displace its residents.

Since then, no sufficient humanitarian aid including food, medicine and fuel has been allowed into the area, leaving the remaining population on the verge of imminent famine.

Overall, Israel has killed more than 45,000 people in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks.