Israel launches raid on Gaza’s largest hospital — RT World News
US officials have supported the country’s claims that militants are stationed inside the compound
The Israeli army launched a military operation against Al-Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, the largest medical complex in the Palestinian Strip. Israeli army officials say the facility was used for military purposes by Hamas, a claim rejected by the militant group.
the Israeli Defense Army Announce raid early Wednesday morning, saying it would carry out an operation “Precise and targeted process” Against Hamas fighters inside A “A specific area in Al-Shifa Hospital” The group was also accused of using… “Human shields” there.
“In recent weeks, the IDF has repeatedly warned publicly that Hamas’ continued military use of Al-Shifa Hospital jeopardizes its protected status under international law, and has provided sufficient time to stop this unlawful violation of the hospital.” Al-Askari added.
On Tuesday, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the IDF considers Gaza hospitals legitimate military targets, and repeated claims that Palestinian forces maintain a command center in underground tunnels beneath Shifa.
Hamas later denounced the Israeli army raid, saying it would take control of Israel and the United States “Full responsibility for the repercussions of the occupation army’s storming of Al-Shifa Medical Complex.” The militants accused American officials of promoting “false narrative” That would enable More massacres against civilians After the White House supported Israeli claims that Hamas was using the hospital for military purposes.
In statements to reporters on Tuesday, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that US intelligence had confirmed this “Members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad administer command and control [center] from al-Shifa,” Claiming that the groups have “The weapons are stored there.” However, Kirby stressed that Washington does not support Israeli air strikes on the compound, noting the presence of civilians at the site “He doesn’t deserve to be caught in the crossfire.”
The Gaza Ministry of Health said that it was informed of the Israeli army raid in advance, and that Israeli forces warned those inside the hospital “Not being near windows” According to ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qudra.
The director of Al-Shifa Hospital, Muhammad Abu Salmiya, described the miserable conditions in the hospital in statements to Agence France-Presse on Tuesday evening, saying that employees had to bury at least 179 bodies in the hospital. “Mass grave”.
He added: “There are bodies scattered throughout the hospital complex, and there is no longer electricity in the morgues.” Al-Salmiya said that among those buried in the hospital courtyard were seven infants and 29 intensive care patients.
Israel launched an unprecedented military bombardment of the densely populated Gaza Strip in response to a Hamas attack last month that killed about 1,200 Israelis. More than 11,000 people have died during weeks of artillery shelling and air strikes in Gaza, Palestinian health officials said, adding that about 40% of the dead were children.
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