The United Nations humanitarian chief has strongly criticized Israeli forces for causing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

In a statement issued on Friday, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths described Gaza as "a place of death and despair" nearly three months after "the horrific 7 October attacks."

Griffiths said that areas where civilians were told to relocate for their safety have come under bombardment.

The Israeli military said on Friday it attacked more than 100 Hamas positions, including command posts and weapons depots, and killed a large number of Hamas militants in the southern city of Khan Younis.

Al Jazeera reported fierce battles being waged in the central region as well.

Health authorities in Gaza said on Friday 162 people were killed by Israeli attacks in the past 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll in the enclave to 22,600.

The World Health Organization announced that 26 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza sustained damage during the roughly three-month-long military operations by Israel. It warned that the "ongoing reduction of humanitarian space plus the continuing attacks on health care are pushing the people of Gaza to breaking point."