The Israeli military has taken control of the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City as part of an operation to "thwart terrorist activity."
The report revealed that the military murdered twenty "terrorists" during the operation, including a top leader of Hamas's internal security unit. Additionally, scores of suspects were apprehended.
Witnesses have reported intense fire exchanges surrounding the area, where thousands of displaced individuals are currently seeking refuge.
Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry declared that Israel was committing a war crime.
According to the Israeli military, there was no need for the medical personnel or patients to evacuate the hospital, and the institution was able to continue performing its essential responsibilities uninterrupted.
However, a number of medical staff at the hospital told the BBC that the Israeli military had turned off the power and ordered them to remain motionless. This prevented them from providing patients with the appropriate level of care.
"We are trapped where we are inside the department," said Dr. Amer Jedbeh, a surgical resident who is 31 years old.
On the first story of our building, a shell struck, causing several people to sustain injuries. We were unable to save the life of one of the men. We are only able to provide first aid; in essence, we are unable to function since there is neither water nor power available.
According to Dr. Jedbeh, two patients who were on life support in the critical care unit located in the same building had passed away as a result of the electrical supply interruption before the attack. "We have turned off every piece of machinery," he continued.
"Colleagues from the main building say there are many injured people there who need surgery, but we can't get to them, and they can't bring the patients to us."
The military has informed the local residents to evacuate immediately for their own safety and move south to the "humanitarian area" in al-Mawasi, which is close to the city of Rafah in the southern region.
During the five-month conflict with Hamas, Israeli soldiers have often conducted raids on Gaza's medical institutions, particularly al-Shifa. The international community has intensely criticized these attacks.
Hamas terrorists murdered over 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7 and captured 253 others. This event marked the beginning of the war.
Since then, the Gaza health ministry has reported that the territory has seen more than 31,700 murders, including 81 deaths in the last 24 hours.
As Israeli forces launched the sudden and unexpected attack on al-Shifa in the early hours of Monday morning, witnesses to the most recent raid reported a climate of fear within the hospital, which is Gaza's largest medical facility. Israeli troops also carried out the raid.
They're encircling us with tanks. We are hiding from the interior of the
tent. Mahmoud al-Saudi shared a recorded conversation with his brother on a
WhatsApp group, stating, "We hear tank fire in the vicinity of the
compound."
Mohammed al-Sayyid, another person present inside the hospital, told
journalists in a voice message that "the soldiers here inside the complex
are dead and wounded, and the soldiers arrested some young men."
There were around twenty medical professionals and sixty nurses working
inside the hospital, according to the deputy director of the emergency
department at al-Shifa, who spoke to the BBC. Additionally, there were hundreds
of patients.
Dr. Amjad Eliwah, who is currently just outside the hospital grounds but
is in communication with his team inside, has described the situation as
"very critical".
Additionally, he claimed that the Israeli military raided two schools
near the hospital that displaced people were using as shelters.
He stated that they took all of the males in custody and instructed the
ladies to escape by a certain exit and proceed in the direction of the town of
Deir al-Balah, which is located to the south.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the top spokesperson for the Israel Defense
Forces (IDF), made the announcement overnight that forces were undertaking a
"high-precision operation in limited areas of al-Shifa hospital following
concrete intelligence that demanded immediate action."
"We know that senior Hamas terrorists have regrouped inside al-Shifa
hospital and are using it to command attacks against Israel," he said to
reporters.
Additionally, he said, "We are
requesting that all Hamas terrorists who are hiding in hospitals immediately
surrender." Medical facilities should never serve terrorist purposes.
There is a need to hold Hamas responsible.
Both Hamas and health authorities have repeatedly refuted the claim that
Hamas militants have operated within or below al-Shifa and other hospitals.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) released a statement later on Monday, stating
that soldiers had "identified terrorist fire towards them from a number of
hospital buildings." The statement also stated that "the forces
engaged the terrorists and identified several hits that were fired at
them."
It also published blurry nighttime video footage from drones and an armored
vehicle, which showed what it claimed to be evidence of soldiers coming under
fire from inside the facility as well as the explosion of an explosive device.
The Israeli Defence Forces declared in the late afternoon: "We have
eliminated twenty terrorists at al-Shifa hospital thus far in various
engagements, and we are currently questioning dozens of apprehended
suspects."
Faiq al-Mabhouh, the chief of Hamas' internal security agency's operations
directorate, was reportedly among those slain. They further stated that he had
been "hiding in a compound... from which he operated and advanced
terrorist activity."
Faiq al-Mabhouh was reportedly in charge of coordinating supplies to northern
Gaza with local clans and the United Nations, according to the media office
working for the Hamas-controlled administration.
The Qatar-based channel Al Jazeera reported that Israeli soldiers
assaulted and detained Ismail al-Ghoul, a journalist for Al Jazeera, during the
raid. None of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) announced on Monday the death of Staff
Sergeant Matan Vingradov, an Israeli soldier, in northern Gaza. However, the
IDF did not specify whether the incident occurred in al-Shifa.
The Hamas-controlled health ministry released a statement claiming that Israeli
soldiers had "invaded" al-Shifa Hospital for the fourth time since
the conflict's start. The statement also said that Israeli forces were using
"fabricated narratives" to explain their activities.
The statement claimed that the forces had "directly shot the specialised
surgery building with bullets and targeted it with missiles," resulting in
a number of patient deaths and injuries.
"The presence of Israeli vehicles in the courtyards of the complex
is a real tragedy and an attack on health institutions against all
international laws and norms," according to the statement.
Furthermore, Hamas denounced a "new crime" that Israeli
soldiers were committing.
He cautioned that the situation at al-Shifa hospital was
"endangering health workers, patients, and civilians." The
director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed his worry
over the situation at the hospital, saying that he was "terribly worried
about it."
Only lately has the hospital begun to provide even the most basic of
medical services. According to what he said on X, which was then known as
Twitter, "Any hostilities or militarization of the facility put health
services, access to ambulances, and delivery of life-saving supplies in
jeopardy." Hospitals are required to be safeguarded. Put an end to the
fighting!
In accordance with international humanitarian law, hospitals are afforded
a protected status during times of conflict; nevertheless, this protection may
be revoked in certain situations if they are being used to carry out an
"act harmful to the enemy."
According to the United Nations, only twelve of Gaza's thirty-three hospitals
are operating at half capacity. Six of these hospitals, including al-Shifa, are
located in the north, while six are located in the south.
According to the head of emergency medicine at al-Shifa Hospital, the
staff at the facility was already in "terrible condition" before the
most recent attack.
In an interview with the BBC over the weekend, Dr. Mutaz Harara said that
the medical team was "completely exhausted" due to the fact that they
were treating dozens of patients each day who were suffering from starvation,
dehydration, and other ailments.
The United Nations issued a warning on Monday that a famine was
"imminent" in northern Gaza. It is believed that 70 percent of the
300,000 people who live there are experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) claimed to have discovered tunnels used by
Hamas beneath al-Shifa during an intensive operation in November. The IDF was
looking for proof of what it claimed to be a crucial "command and control center"
for the organization.
Israeli soldiers also conducted a significant operation at Nasser
Hospital, the second largest hospital in Gaza, in February. Khan Younis is
located in the southern region of Gaza.
Following claims of imprisonment, blindfolding, and abuse of doctors
during the raid, the United Kingdom issued a plea for "answers from the
Israelis". The doctors informed the BBC about these reports.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) found weapons and drugs intended for
captives at Nasser Hospital. Several freed hostages have confirmed their
detention at Nasser hospital.
