The Israeli army has withdrawn from Al-Shifa Hospital, which it stormed on Wednesday evening. However, the armed forces have still taken up positions around the facility with tanks, as reporters reported.
In addition, dozens of citizens were reportedly interrogated in hospital and then released. The Israeli raid had sparked international concern for the people in the hospital. At least 2,300 patients, staff and displaced civilians remain at the facility in Gaza city, according to the UN. After days of heavy fighting and air raids, it has been completely closed off. According to a military spokesperson, there was no fighting in the hospital itself.
Weapons found
The Israeli military said weapons were found in the building, believed to be a Hamas command center. It also reported that several fighters from the radical Islamist Palestinian group Hamas had been killed. “Before our soldiers entered the hospital, they were confronted with explosives and groups of terrorists. Clashes ensued in which terrorists were killed,” the army said. Israeli army radio reported five deaths.
The army spoke of a “precise and targeted military operation.” Eyewitnesses report appalling conditions in the hospital.
UN emergency relief coordinator: “No battlefields”
UN emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths wrote on the X platform (formerly Twitter) that he was appalled by the messages. “The protection of newborns, patients, medical staff and all citizens must come before all other concerns. Hospitals are not battlefields.”
He presented a 10-point plan that includes a humanitarian ceasefire, continued aid deliveries and open border crossings.
You can see Martin Griffiths’ tweet here.
Humanitarian workers in the Gaza Strip must have access to fuel. There would also be a need for more relief camps and more protection for displaced people. Humanitarian aid requires 1.2 billion dollars (corresponding to 1.1 billion euros).
Jordan: UN partially responsible
The Jordanian government accused the UN Security Council of being partly responsible for the situation: “The Al-Shifa hospital disaster shows the barbarity that the UN Security Council is allowing through its silence,” Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi tweeted on Wednesday. “We condemn the silence about this brutality. It provides cover for war crimes.”
Here you can see Ayman Safadi’s tweet.
The Israeli military has long accused Hamas of setting up its headquarters in tunnels beneath the hospital. Spokesman Daniel Hagari published videos and photos as evidence. The terrorist organization rejects the accusations and describes the recordings as fake.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
