Gaza’s civil defence teams say they cannot respond to distress calls from families because of intense Israeli bombardment.

“Those besieged in the areas of incursion suffer from a complete lack of livelihood. The suspension of our services has completely affected the lives of citizens who are exposed to Israeli bombardment,” a civil defence member told Al Jazeera.

Israel’s military assault expanded across the northern areas of the Palestinian territory in October, and last week it targeted a major hospital now emptied of its staff and patients.