Israel’s Raid on Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza Enters Fourth Day
One of Israel’s longest hospital raids of the Gaza war has stretched into a fourth day, with the military reporting that it had killed dozens of people it described as terrorists in the previous 24 hours at Al-Shifa Hospital.
The Israeli military has been conducting a series of raids on Al-Shifa in northern Gaza, the largest medical facility in the territory, claiming that Hamas has been using it as a command center and hiding weapons and fighters in underground tunnels. Since the latest attack began on Monday, the Israeli military has reported killing over 140 people they said were terrorists in and around the hospital.
On Thursday, the military also 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, indicated that Israeli forces had blown up a building used for surgery at the hospital complex. However, the Israeli military declined to comment on these reports.
Residents near the hospital described the situation as “very terrifying,” with constant sounds of clashes, gunshots, shelling, and bombing. Smoke had infiltrated homes, making it difficult to breathe, and many families were unable to leave their apartments.
The World Health Organization had hoped to provide aid to the hospital on Thursday, but permission was denied due to security concerns. The organization expressed deep worry about the situation at the hospital and the inability to contact staff members there.
The raid on Al-Shifa has become a focal point for criticism of Israel’s military actions around hospitals and the impact on patients and medical staff. It has also sparked a broader debate about the human cost of Israel’s campaign to destroy Hamas in Gaza.
As the raid continues, the situation remains tense and uncertain for residents in the area, with fears of running out of food and escalating violence. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely as the conflict in Gaza shows no signs of abating.
