The sole laboratory in Gaza for COVID-19 testing has become temporarily inoperable due to an Israeli airstrike on Monday, officials in Gaza said.

A health compound, including the testing laboratory, local health authority's offices and an outpatient clinic, was severely damaged after Israeli airstrikes completely destroyed several buildings near the compound, said Yousef Abu al-Reesh, director of the Hamas-controlled health authority in Gaza.

Several doctors and health ministry staff were injured during the airstrikes, the official added.

The official has called on the international community, mainly the World Health Organization (WHO), to ensure full protection of the health ministry facilities in the region.

"The Gaza Strip needs the help of health and humanitarian organizations to ensure medical supplies needed for the protection of medical staff amid the spread of coronavirus in the world," he said.

The Israeli Army did not comment about the strike so far. 

A fresh round of violence between Israel and Hamas has only intensified as it moved into its second week with no signs of a ceasefire on the horizon.

Gaza health officials have put the Palestinian death toll since hostilities flared up last week at 212, including 61 children and 36 women. Ten people have been killed in Israel, including two children.

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Israel-Gaza conflict rages on despite calls for ceasefire grow

On Monday, the WHO warned that risks to health care workers during the recent violence in occupied Palestinian territory and Israel is "highly concerning."

"Health workers and infrastructure should always be protected, and I call for leaders on all sides to ensure respect for these vital humanitarian laws," said WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus on Monday.

A total of 103,000 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Gaza, of whom more than 930 have died, according to the WHO. 

(With inputs from agencies.)