In search of senior leaders of the militant Palestinian organization Hamas, the Israeli army stormed Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Monday evening. The soldiers would carry out a “precise” mission, the army reported.
They were shot at and returned fire. Hamas said the clinic building was shelled without any attention paid to patients, medical staff or people seeking protection there.
According to the Hamas health authority in the Gaza Strip, a fire has broken out. According to the Israeli military, intelligence shows that the clinic in the Gaza city is being used by leading members of the Islamist Hamas to carry out terrorist activities.
Shelter for Hamas members?
Al-Shifa Hospital is one of the few remaining functioning medical facilities in the Gaza Strip. Israel has long accused Hamas of using hospitals as shelters. The Islamic group denies this.
The health authority said there was a fire at the entrance to the complex. Refugee women and children suffocated from the smoke. People are stuck in operating rooms and emergency rooms.
Communication with the hospital was lost. “There are casualties, including deaths and injuries, and it is impossible to save anyone because the fire is so intense,” the agency said in a statement. Anyone who comes near the windows is attacked.
Army: Hamas regroups in hospital
The Islamists were known to have regrouped at the clinic to command attacks on Israel, army spokesman Daniel Hagari said. The soldiers were ordered to proceed “with caution” and to take measures to prevent harm to patients, civilians, medical personnel and medical equipment. Patients are not obliged to leave the complex.
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.
