Palestinians receiving treatment by Israeli and IDF medical teams. Photo: Ehud Amiton/ Tazpit News Agency.

The Israel Defense Forces will open a field hospital on Sunday evening to treat Gazan civilians, an IDF spokesman said.

The move comes as fighting between Israel and Gaza based terror group Hamas escalated overnight, after the IDF entered the coastal enclave late last week.

The center will provide medical aid to those wounded in Gaza fighting, as well as other health services, including pediatric and maternity care. The hospital will be staffed by doctors, nurses and medical technicians. Situated at the Erez crossing, it will be deployed in a rocket-proof building.

The IDF said that Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Benjamin (Benny) Gantz, approved the establishment of the hospital following the recommendation of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Major General Yoav (Poli) Mordechai. The hospital will open its doors at 8:00 pm Israel time.

Earlier Sunday, Israel agreed to a two-hour humanitarian ceasefire in the Shuja’iya area to enable Hamas to treat their wounded and collect their dead. The IDF called on the civilian population to take advantage of the ceasefire and evacuate the area.

Hamas, however, violated the truce after less than an hour and fighting resumed in Gaza.