The military forces of Israel They entered on Wednesday Al-Shifa Hospitalthe largest in the Gaza Strip and where the Israelis claim to be the command center of the Palestinian Islamic movement Hamas. In the building, in addition to patients, there are thousands of people who sought refuge after the start of Israeli bombings on October 7th.
The Israeli army first reported that he was performing “a precise and selective operation” against Hamas in Al-Shifa.
LOOK: The renowned doctor at Al Shifa hospital who stayed in Gaza to care for his patients and died in an Israeli bombing
According to a report by the AFP agency, Dozens of Israeli soldiers invaded Al Shifa hospital asking “all men aged 16 and over” to leave their “hands up” (…) towards the inner courtyard to surrender.”
Soldiers then interrogated people in the hospital, searching women, while children could be seen crying.
The soldiers went from room to room, shooting into the air, looking for combatants. Hamasindicated the AFP report.
Tanks also entered the hospital complex and they stood in front of several of their services.
Israel said he believes that in the basement of Al-Shifa Hospital Hamas held hostages it took from its territory on October 7, after a surprise attack that left at least 1,200 people dead. There would be around 240 people kidnapped.
Since October 7th, the forces of Israel They attack relentlessly Gaza stripleaving more than 11,300 dead, 29,200 injured and 3,600 missing under the rubble.
He Al-Shifa Hospital It has been without electricity, drinking water and food for several days. It houses around 9,000 people, including displaced people, medical staff and patients, including more than 30 premature babies whose life is in danger.
O hospitals are protected in times of war by the rules of the International human lawbut they lose this protection if it is proven that one of the parties uses them militarily.
This is what was known at the time of the attack on Al-Shifa Hospital:
Daniel Hagari, an Israeli army spokesman, said on Wednesday that before entering the hospital, troops “encountered explosive devices and terrorist cells, and a confrontation began in which terrorists were killed.” He did not specify the number of deaths. He also did not report any fights inside the hospital.
The Israeli army claims that gave Palestinian militants 12 hours to cease all military activities inside the hospitaland appealed “to all terrorists of Hamas present at the hospital to surrender.”
Troops deployed at the hospital “include Arabic-speaking medical teams, who have received specific training to prepare for this complex and sensitive environment, with the intention that no harm will be caused to civilians who Hamas used as human shields,” he stated. Hagari.
He also said that the army brought “incubators, baby food and medical supplies”and that his troops “facilitated large-scale evacuations of the hospital.”
“Our operation, which began early this morning in the area of Al-Shifa Hospital it was necessary, located in [un] specific location within the hospital premises, within the hospital complex. And in fact, was based on operational need and intelligence, and the operation is ongoing. “I won’t go into detail about where or how the activities are carried out, but I can confirm they are ongoing,” the spokesperson told CNN. Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Pedro Lerner.
A doctor from Al-Shifa Hospital He told CNN they were notified 30 minutes before the Israeli operation began.
“They asked us to stay away from windows and balconies. We can hear the armored vehicles, they are very close to the entrance of the complex,” said Dr. Khaled Abu Samra.
CNN asked the IDF spokesperson if they had informed authorities in Link before entering the hospital. “We work based on international humanitarian law and the laws of armed conflict. And when we approached the hospital, we informed the administrators to stay away from the windows to ensure that the patients and civilians inside the complex stay away from the windows and protect themselves because we intend to carry out our military operation to differentiate and distinguish between civilians and terrorists,” he replied. he Lerner.
Israeli radio reported on Wednesday that The military has not yet found any evidence that there are hostages inside Al Shifa Hospital.
The broadcaster assured that searches continue inside the complex.
O Israeli tanks and military vehicles were parked in the courtyard of the Al-Shifa HospitalPalestinian journalist Khader Al Za’anoun, a reporter for the Palestinian news agency Wafa, told CNN.
He added that Israeli soldiers were “in buildings and apartments carrying out search and interrogation operations with young people.” amid intense and violent shootings inside the hospital.”
Al Za’anoun stated that The Israeli army “is asking young people through megaphones to raise their hands, leave and surrender”.
He Gaza Ministry of Healthcontrolled by Hamasaccused the Israeli army of attacking medical personnel and evacuees inside the Al-Shifa Hospital.
“We consider the occupation responsible for the lives of our patients, medical personnel and evacuees,” said Health Hospitals director general Mohamed Zaqout.
He added that the soldiers also interrogated several hospital doctors “for hours” in side rooms and that They opened fire on those who left the hospital complex.
Zaqout said he witnessed people handcuffed, undressed and blindfolded.
Mohamed Zaqout told Al Jazeera news network that people inside Al Shifa hospital had lost contact with other buildings in the complex.
“We have lost contact with other buildings in the hospital complex,” said Zaqout. “We don’t know what is happening outside, all we hear are explosions, gunshots, elderly people’s screams and children’s screams.”
Palestinian media highlighted that at least 200 people would be detained at Al Shifa Hospitalbetween medical personnel and evacuees.
The director of Al-Shifa HospitalMohamed Abu Salmiya, reported that the Israeli army remains positioned in several buildings in the complex, including the dialysis department; and that medical personnel cannot access the pharmacy to provide medicines to patients, since “the occupation fires at everything that moves”, according to an analysis by the EFE agency.
Abu Salmiya indicated that there is no water, electricity or oxygen in any department of the hospital, and that he has been unable to communicate with many of his doctors to consult about the status of patients, “especially premature babies.”
“The smell of death is everywhere, from the emergency room to the last hospital building,” said the hospital director, who also mentioned that the wounds of many patients are rotting due to the lack of antibiotics and the suspension of hospital services.
The press office of the Gaza Government, controlled by Hamasstated that The Israeli army invaded Al Shifa Hospital with tanks, explosives, drones and heavily armed soldiers, “firing inside”, which constitutes a “war crime”.
“The occupation army fired shots inside the complex, triggering fear and panic among the injured, sick and displaced, in a war crime that adds to its dark history,” the Gaza government said in a statement.
The government of Hamas He also accused Israeli soldiers of having “beaten” and “insulted” the injured and displaced people inside the hospital, in addition to forcing some of them to take off their clothes to search them “under threats of death”.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.