Title: Israel’s Hospital Raid in Gaza Enters Fourth Day, Killing Dozens
One of Israel’s longest hospital raids of the Gaza war has extended into a fourth day, with the military claiming to have killed dozens of people described as terrorists in its operation at Al-Shifa Hospital. The Israeli military has targeted the largest medical facility in northern Gaza, accusing Hamas of using it as a command center and hiding weapons and fighters in underground tunnels.
Since the start of the latest attack on Monday, the Israeli military has reported killing over 140 individuals they deemed as terrorists in and around the hospital, a significantly higher number compared to previous raids. On Thursday, the military announced that they had detained 600 people at the hospital, although these accounts could not be independently verified.
Reports from Al Jazeera and Wafa, the Palestinian Authority’s news agency, stated that Israeli forces had destroyed a building used for surgery at the hospital. Residents living near Al-Shifa described the situation as “very terrifying,” with constant sounds of clashes, gunshots, and bombings throughout the day and night.
The ongoing raid has left many residents trapped in their homes, unable to leave due to the intense fighting. One resident, Iyad Elejel, expressed concern for his family’s safety and the dwindling food supplies as the neighborhood empties out due to Israeli soldiers forcing people to evacuate.
The Israeli military defended its actions, stating that they were conducting precise operations to eliminate terrorists while preventing harm to civilians. They claimed to have located storage sites for weapons within the hospital complex.
International aid workers have raised concerns about the deteriorating situation at Al-Shifa Hospital, which was already struggling to provide adequate healthcare services before the conflict. The World Health Organization had planned a mission to provide essential supplies and assess the situation but was denied permission due to security issues.
The raid on Al-Shifa has sparked criticism of Israel’s military actions around hospitals and the impact on patients and medical staff. It has also reignited the debate on the human cost of Israel’s campaign to defeat Hamas in Gaza, with tens of thousands of civilians killed or wounded.
As the situation continues to unfold, the world watches closely as the conflict in Gaza shows no signs of abating.
