Israel Attacks al Shifa Hospital: What You Need to Know

Israeli soldiers went into Gaza’s largest hospital on Wednesday. They checked its rooms and basement, after a days-long lockdown that worried people worldwide about the safety of thousands of civilians stuck inside. The Al Shifa hospital, in Gaza City, is the main focus of the Israeli forces’ ground operation. However, a doctor has described a shooting inside what is Gaza’s biggest hospital. 

Israeli forces launched an assault on Gaza’s al Shifa Hospital this Wednesday. Following a prolonged siege on the region’s largest medical facility. However, here’s a summary of the situation:

Current Situation at Hospital:

• Dr Ahmad Mokhallalati, a surgeon at al-Shifa, reports gunshots echoing throughout the hospital.
• Dr Ahmed El Mohallalati, a surgeon, told by phone on Wednesday morning that staff were in hiding as the fighting unfolded outside the hospital overnight. The sound of what he described as “continuous shooting from the tanks” could be heard in the background as he spoke. “The sound was horrible,” he said. “And then we realized that the tanks were moving around the hospital. One of the big tanks entered within the hospital from the eastern main gate, and they were, they were they just parked in the front of the hospital emergency department.”
• Approximately 650 patients, including 100 in critical condition, and 2,000 to 3,000 displaced Palestinians seek shelter inside.
• The hospital houses 700 medical staff and 36 premature babies, with three already reported dead due to disrupted oxygen supply.
• Moreover, evacuees face harsh conditions, being interrogated outdoors in the cold after being forced to undress.

Location of al-Shifa Hospital:

• Situated in Gaza City, 500 meters from the Mediterranean coast, al-Shifa is located between the Shati refugee camp and the Remal neighborhood. Moreover, it suffered destruction in earlier Israeli bombings.

Evidence of Military Use

• Israel claims al-Shifa was used for military purposes by Hamas, but as of now, there is no concrete evidence supporting these claims.
• Israeli forces contradict their earlier statement, now stating there’s no indication of captives inside.

Hamas Response:

• Hamas holds US President Joe Biden “wholly responsible” for the assault, rejecting claims of using hospitals for military operations.

Israeli Perspective:

• Lt. Col. Peter Lerner asserts that al-Shifa was a central hub for Hamas. He claimed it was given a 12-hour warning to cease military activities. Moreover, they claim that beneath the hospital, in tunnels, Hamas fighters have their main headquarters, which Hamas denies.

Also See: Suella Braverman Sacked Amidst Controversies

International Reaction

• Human Rights Watch challenges Israel to provide evidence justifying the attack on a civilian facility.
• The White House denies supporting the attack on the hospital and emphasizes its opposition to airstrikes on medical facilities.

The situation remains tense, with ongoing conflict and a growing humanitarian crisis at al-Shifa Hospital.