Israeli forces conducted a raid on Gaza's Al Shifa Hospital, with eyewitnesses reporting gunfire within the facility.
A minimum of 11,000 Palestinians have lost their lives as Israeli forces conducted raids on surgery and emergency departments.
Israeli forces conducted a 'raid' on Wednesday at Al Shifa Hospital, targeting Hamas fighters, while urging their surrender. The operation took place with thousands of Palestinian civilians still seeking refuge inside the Gaza Strip's largest hospital.
Medical sources in Gaza report a death toll of over 11,000 people from Israeli airstrikes, with approximately 40% of the victims being children. Many others are trapped under debris. According to Dr. Munir al-Bursh, the director-general of the Gaza health ministry, Israeli forces entered the western part of the medical complex, causing explosions and dust in the affected areas.
Subsequently, Gaza health ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra informed Al Jazeera that Israeli forces were in the hospital basement, conducting searches, shooting, and carrying out bombings. The initial targets of the raid were the surgery and emergency departments, as stated by Mohammed Zaqout, director of hospitals at the Gaza health ministry.
The situation at Al Shifa Hospital has raised international concerns, prompting global calls for a humanitarian ceasefire. The deteriorating conditions within the facility, where patients, medical staff, and displaced individuals are trapped, have become a focal point of alarm during the intense Israeli assault on Gaza over the past five weeks.
Israel alleges, without evidence, that Hamas maintains a command center beneath Al Shifa, using the hospital and tunnels to conceal military operations and captives. Hamas denies these claims. A video released by the Israeli military was purported to show a list of hostages in the hospital, but it turned out to be a work schedule with Arabic-written days.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) justified the operation at Shifa hospital, stating it was based on intelligence information and operational necessity, with measures in place to avoid harm to civilians. The U.S. expressed support for Israel's conclusions based on its intelligence on Tuesday.
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