UNICEF: Rafah situation ‘catastrophic’ and Israeli ground assault ‘unimaginable’

Palestinians have started leaving southern Gaza’s main hospital – after Israeli forces ordered them to evacuate.

Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis has been isolated for weeks by heavy fighting. Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry said Israeli snipers had surrounded the complex last week and 10 people had been killed there in recent days.

People are also starting to leave the southern city of Rafah ahead of Israel’s planned assault, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says will begin once civilians have been allowed to vacate the area.

Earlier I spoke to Hamish Young, a senior emergency coordinator from UNICEF, who works in Rafah every day.