Israel raids Gaza’s largest functioning hospital — RT World News
Doctors Without Borders said an “unspecified number” of people were killed and injured in Thursday's operation.
Israeli forces on Thursday stormed Al-Nasr Hospital in southern Gaza, the largest health facility still operating in the besieged enclave, according to the Israeli military and officials from the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry.
The Israeli army said in a statement issued through its spokesman, Daniel Hagari, that it had received “Reliable intelligence” To support Hamas' claims “Hostage taking at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis.”
The Israeli military also indicated that it believed Hamas activists were hiding inside the facility, although it did not immediately release evidence to support this claim. A Hamas spokesman denied the Israeli army's statement, describing it as… “He lies.”
Doctors Without Borders said in a statement that hospital workers informed it that an emergency had occurred “Chaotic situation” inside the hospital, “With an unspecified number of deaths and injuries.”
Thursday's raid came hours after the Israeli army ordered thousands of displaced civilians who were seeking shelter in or around the medical facility to leave the area. Hospital surgeon Dr. Khaled Al-Sir told Euronews that the fire that targeted the hospital on Wednesday killed a patient and injured seven others.
Palestinian Ministry of Health spokesman Dr. Ashraf Al-Qudra said, according to the BBC, that the Israeli army’s military operation forced hospital directors to stop working. “Keeping intensive care patients without medical equipment.” Al-Qudra added in a statement that hospital evacuations of patients and medical staff were carried out early Thursday “Under bombing and threats”
Israel has often accused Hamas of seeking to use hospitals to hide its fighters, and claims that Hamas has set up command centers beneath medical facilities. The Israeli army said on Thursday that its forces arrested an unspecified number of suspects in Al-Nasr.
Thursday's raid followed warnings from world leaders that Israel should not launch military attacks in the southern city of Rafah, where an estimated 1.5 million displaced Gazans are seeking shelter. Israeli forces had previously issued instructions to civilians to flee to Rafah, which borders Egypt.
About 80% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million have been displaced during the more than four-month-long war, which Israel launched in response to the October 7 Hamas cross-border attack on its territory.
Israeli officials said that about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the incursion, while about 250 were taken hostage. Palestinian health officials say at least 28,600 people have died so far in the Israeli blockade of the coastal enclave. Israel said it would not back down until it destroyed Hamas' ability to operate and secured the release of all remaining hostages.
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