Israeli troops raided the compound of Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital early on Monday in an operation that Palestinian well being authorities stated had brought about a number of casualties and set off a fierce hearth in one of many buildings.
The Israeli navy stated troopers performed a “exact operation” and have been fired upon once they entered the compound.
“The troops responded with stay hearth and hits have been recognized. Our troops are persevering with to function within the space of the hospital,” it stated in an announcement.
The operation was based mostly on intelligence data that indicated the hospital was being utilized by senior Hamas leaders, the navy stated.
“All of the sudden, we began to listen to sounds of explosions, a number of bombings, and shortly tanks began to roll, they got here from the western highway and headed towards Al-Shifa, then sounds of gunfire and explosions elevated,” Mohammad Ali, 32, a father of two, who lives round one kilometre from the hospital, advised Reuters by way of a chat app.
“We do not know what is going on, however it seemed as if it was a re-invasion of the Gaza Metropolis,” he added, saying that the navy actions started at round 1 a.m. native time on Monday.
Gaza’s Hamas-run well being ministry stated a hearth broke out on the entrance of the advanced, inflicting circumstances of suffocation amongst displaced girls and kids within the hospital.
Individuals trapped in constructing
It stated communication had been lower off, with individuals trapped contained in the surgical procedure and emergency models of one of many buildings.
“There are casualties, together with deaths and accidents, and it is not possible to rescue anybody because of the depth of the fireplace and focusing on of anybody approaching the home windows,” the ministry stated.
The Israeli navy issued grainy drone footage of the operation which it stated confirmed troops coming underneath hearth from numerous buildings within the hospital advanced.
It stated troops had been instructed on the significance of working cautiously in addition to on measures to be taken to keep away from hurt to sufferers, civilians, medical employees and medical tools and stated sufferers weren’t required to evacuate.
Hamas stated in an announcement the Israeli navy had dedicated a brand new crime by straight focusing on the hospital buildings with out caring about sufferers, medical employees or displaced individuals in it.
Considered one of final remaining working hospitals in Gaza
Israel got here underneath fierce criticism final yr when troops first raided the hospital, the place they uncovered underground tunnels they stated have been used as command and management centres by Hamas.
The hospital in Gaza Metropolis is likely one of the few remaining well being amenities left within the besieged enclave and the Israeli navy has lengthy accused the Islamist motion Hamas of utilizing it as a base for its fighters.
Hamas and hospital officers have denied the accusation and the hospital has been on the centre of accusations of battle crimes on each side, with Palestinians accusing Israel of focusing on hospitals and Israel saying the websites have been getting used to shelter armed fighters.
The Gaza Well being Ministry stated at the very least 31,645 Palestinians have been killed within the battle. The ministry would not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its depend, however says girls and kids make up two-thirds of the lifeless.
Palestinian militants killed some 1,200 individuals within the shock Oct. 7 assault out of Gaza that triggered the battle, they usually took one other 250 individuals hostage. Hamas remains to be believed to be holding some 100 captives, in addition to the stays of 30 others.