Israel - Hamas War : Israel searches for traces of Hamas in raid of key Gaza hospital packed with patients
On wednesday, Israeli forces entered Gaza's largest hospital, hunting for remnants of Hamas within and beneath the institution, where babies and hundreds of other patients had been without power and other basic requirements for days as combat raged outside.
Details on the day-long attack remained hazy, although authorities from israel and Gaza gave conflicting reports of what was going on inside Shifa Hospital in Gaza City: The Israeli army posted footage of soldiers carrying crates labeled "baby food" and "medical supplies," as health professionals described panicked staff and patients as forces marched through the premises.
Details on the day-long attack remained hazy, although authorities from israel and Gaza gave conflicting reports of what was going on inside Shifa Hospital in Gaza City: The Israeli army posted footage of soldiers carrying crates labeled "baby food" and "medical supplies," as health professionals described panicked staff and patients as forces marched through the premises.
After encircling Shifa for days, israel was under pressure to prove its claim that Hamas had turned the hospital into a command center, using patients, staff, and civilians sheltering there as cover for its militants — part of Israel's broader accusation that Hamas uses Palestinians as human shields. israel published footage of weaponry it said it uncovered in one facility on wednesday evening. Still, its search has no evidence of tunnels or a sophisticated command center.
According to the Palestinian news agency, Hamas and Gaza health officials deny that militants operate at Shifa, a hospital that employs over 1,500 people and has more than 500 beds. According to Palestinians and rights groups, israel has recklessly harmed people in its quest to eliminate Hamas.
As israel strengthens its grip on northern Gaza, commanders have discussed pushing the ground operation to the south in order to eliminate Hamas. Already, the majority of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have flocked to the territory's south, where a rising fuel crisis threatened to stymie humanitarian aid delivery and shut down mobile phone and internet access.
The conflict between israel and Hamas started after the Palestinian organisation killed over 1,200 people and kidnapped approximately 240 people in an Oct. 7 massacre that shattered Israelis' feeling of security. According to the Palestinian health Ministry in Ramallah, which communicates with the ministry branch in Hamas-ruled Gaza, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 11,200 individuals since then, with two-thirds of them being women and kids. Another 2,700 people have been confirmed missing, with the majority assumed to be buried beneath the debris. The ministry's tally makes no distinction between civilian and militant casualties.
According to the Palestinian news agency, Hamas and Gaza health officials deny that militants operate at Shifa, a hospital that employs over 1,500 people and has more than 500 beds. According to Palestinians and rights groups, israel has recklessly harmed people in its quest to eliminate Hamas.
As israel strengthens its grip on northern Gaza, commanders have discussed pushing the ground operation to the south in order to eliminate Hamas. Already, the majority of Gaza's 2.3 million residents have flocked to the territory's south, where a rising fuel crisis threatened to stymie humanitarian aid delivery and shut down mobile phone and internet access.
The conflict between israel and Hamas started after the Palestinian organisation killed over 1,200 people and kidnapped approximately 240 people in an Oct. 7 massacre that shattered Israelis' feeling of security. According to the Palestinian health Ministry in Ramallah, which communicates with the ministry branch in Hamas-ruled Gaza, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 11,200 individuals since then, with two-thirds of them being women and kids. Another 2,700 people have been confirmed missing, with the majority assumed to be buried beneath the debris. The ministry's tally makes no distinction between civilian and militant casualties.