Israel's military on Tuesday responded to accusations by the World Health Organization (WHO) that its forces attacked the UN agency's facilities in central Gaza and detained staff members. The military said soldiers came under fire in the city of Deir al-Balah on Monday and returned fire in the direction the shots originated.

Israel attacked the World Health Organization’s premises in Gaza three times on Monday, the UN agency said, warning that Israel’s expanding war with Hamas was pushing the Palestinian enclave’s health system further towards collapse.

The World Health Organization said Monday its facilities in Gaza had come under Israeli attack, echoing calls from Western countries for an immediate ceasefire as Israel expanded military operations to the central city of Deir el-Balah.