The European Union said 31 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza had been damaged or destroyed since October 7, and called for an end to attacks on health facilities vital to civilians.

This came on Monday, in a joint statement by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, and the European Commissioner responsible for Crisis Management and Humanitarian Aid, Janez Lenarčić, and the statement avoided mentioning Israel’s responsibility for those attacks.

The statement pointed out that 31 hospitals out of 36 in Gaza were damaged or destroyed, while those that were not destroyed are partially operating under severe restrictions.

The statement stressed that "obtaining emergency medical care is of greater importance at a time when Palestinians in Gaza are living under continuous Israeli bombardment and more than 9,000 seriously injured people are at risk of death due to lack of adequate health care."

He stated that the World Health Organization recorded 890 attacks on health facilities, 443 of them in Gaza and 447 in the West Bank, since October 7.

He pointed out that the attacks targeting health workers, hospitals and ambulances led to the disruption of medical services.

The statement called for an end to attacks on health facilities and respect for international humanitarian law.

He stated that more than 50 health facilities and 300 ambulances were deliberately damaged in the occupied West Bank, and expressed concern about attacks on health facilities.

He said: "A human tragedy is happening before our eyes. The European Union is deeply concerned about the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza."

He renewed the European Union's call for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of prisoners, and full access to humanitarian aid.