Israeli forces have reportedly encircled two of the few remaining operational hospitals in northern Gaza, according to staff and aid organizations. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that this situation is pushing the healthcare system past its limits.

This development coincides with an announcement from an Israeli military spokesperson on Wednesday, stating that a new phase of operations, “different in size and strength,” has begun to achieve the goals of rescuing kidnapped soldiers and defeating Hamas.

IDF Col. Avichay Adraee stated on X that forces from the 401st Brigade and the Givati Brigade, under the 162nd Division’s command, have started operations in northern Gaza, where they have been identifying and destroying suspicious buildings and eliminating “dozens of Hamas terrorists.”

The Associated Press reports that the Indonesian hospital and al-Awda hospital are among the only medical facilities still functioning in northern Gaza.

Israeli authorities issued evacuation orders on Friday for large areas of northern Gaza in advance of military actions aimed at securing the release of more hostages.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that both hospitals, another hospital, and three primary healthcare centers are located within the evacuation zone, although Israel has not mandated the evacuation of the facilities themselves. He added that two more hospitals and four primary care centers are within 1,000 yards of the zone.

He stated that Israeli military operations and evacuation orders “are stretching the health system beyond the breaking point.”

According to the AP, an aid organization supporting the Indonesian hospital reported that Israeli drones have been observed hovering around the facility since Sunday.

The Israeli military claims its forces are operating in the vicinity of the hospital but denies that troops have entered the facility and asserts that ambulances are being allowed to move freely.

However, MERC-Indonesia, an aid group, and a hospital staff member who has since evacuated reported that Israeli bulldozers demolished a section of the hospital’s perimeter wall. Additionally, airstrikes reportedly targeted the hospital’s generators on Tuesday, causing a fire and damaging its primary power source.

The WHO reported that at least one staff member was killed and that those remaining in the hospital are in dire need of water and food. The U.N. is reportedly working to transfer the remaining patients to other facilities.

Rami Shurafi, a board member of al-Awda hospital, told the AP that Israeli drones fired into the hospital courtyard on Monday, preventing movement. The hospital is located nearly half a mile away from the Indonesian Hospital.

Spokesperson Khaled Alhelo reportedly added that on Tuesday, Israeli drones fired at two ambulances transporting three patients to Gaza City as the crews attempted to return to the hospital.

“Anyone moving in the hospital is fired at. They are all keeping low inside the hospital,” he said.

Shurafi stated that approximately 47 patients, including nearly 20 children and several pregnant women, along with some 140 doctors and medical staff members, remain at the hospital.

After cutting off 2 million Palestinians from all imports for over two and a half months, Israel has also begun allowing a limited amount of food and medicine into the Gaza Strip.

The U.N. reports that while a few dozen trucks have entered since Monday, the aid has not been distributed due to delays caused by Israeli military procedures.