Israel on Friday defended its raid on a north Gaza hospital last week while the U.N. human rights chief called the justification unsubstantiated and the World Health Organization urged Israel to release the hospital's director from detention.

The Israel Defense Forces continues its intense airstrike and ground campaigns in Gaza, particularly in the north of the strip around several Palestinian hospitals.

UN experts on Thursday denounced Israel's raid on an embattled hospital in northern Gaza, demanding an end to the "blatant assault" on health rights in the besieged Palestinian territory."For well over a year into the genocide,

Northern Gaza’s last remaining major hospital is now out of service after a raid by Israeli forces severely damaged the building and emptied its wards of patients and doctors.

Human rights groups have reported on cases of alleged torture and ill-treatment of medical staff from Gaza in Israeli detention.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, was arrested Friday along with dozens of other staff and taken to an interrogation center. The ministry said Israeli troops stormed the hospital and forced many staff and patients outside and told them to strip in winter weather, according to the ministry.

NBC News’ crew in Gaza captured a blaze tearing through several units, with volunteers attempting to douse the flames with buckets of water, or sifting through smoldering rubble.

Amid international scrutiny, Israel defends its raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza, citing security threats from militant activities. The UN and WHO challenge Israel's rationale, demanding investigations into attacks on medical facilities.

Authorities entered impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's compound, evading a crowd of protesters outside, but were confronted with presidential security forces inside.

The Israeli army has surrounded the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza, and demanded the immediate evacuation of those inside.

Volker Turk called Israel's attacks on Gaza's medical facilities a 'catastrophe unfolding before the eyes of the world'