Israeli and Palestinian officials said on November 15 that military operations were underway at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. This medical facility is the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip and has become the focus of fierce fighting in the Hamas-Israel conflict in recent days.
View of Al-Shifa Hospital before the Israeli raid
Israeli tanks entered Al-Shifa Hospital, while soldiers stormed buildings including the emergency department and the surgical ward, which houses the intensive care unit (ICU), according to Mohammed Zaqout, a health official in the Gaza Strip. "There is nothing we can do for the patients except pray," Zaqout told the AP news agency.
The Israeli military said it was carrying out a "precise and targeted strike operation against Hamas in a specific area of Al-Shifa Hospital". According to the Israeli military, it had warned "the relevant authorities in Gaza" that all military operations inside the hospital must cease, but "that did not happen".
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Israel also said its forces and Hamas exchanged gunfire at the hospital gates, before Israeli soldiers entered. According to the Israeli military, they found weapons at the medical facility. Israel also said it provided incubators and food for the newborns at the hospital.
Al-Shifa Hospital has become a symbol of the plight of Palestinian civilians in the war between Israel and Hamas. Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields, while Palestinians and human rights groups say Israel has risked civilian lives as it seeks to destroy Hamas, the Palestinian political -military organization that controls the Gaza Strip.
US concerns
The Times of Israel reported on November 15 that soldiers discovered weapons and Hamas assets inside Al-Shifa Hospital, indicating the group's presence.
However, the soldiers have not yet seen any sign of the hostages believed to be held at the hospital. In addition, there have been no conflicts between the soldiers and the patients or hospital staff. At least five Hamas gunmen were killed in the gun battle outside the hospital. An unnamed Israeli security official predicted that the operation in Al-Shifa would be expanded if necessary.
Israel claims Hamas has a massive command center inside and below Al-Shifa Hospital, but has provided no visual evidence, while Hamas and hospital officials have repeatedly denied the allegations.
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Hours before the raid, the White House said the US had intelligence indicating that Hamas had used Al-Shifa Hospital and other hospitals, as well as underground tunnels at these facilities, to support military operations and hold hostages. In response, Hamas said that Washington's words effectively gave Israel a "green light" to attack the hospital.
After the raid, the White House reiterated concerns about the safety of civilians in Gaza. "We do not support attacking a hospital from the air and we do not want to see a gun battle in a hospital," AFP quoted a US National Security Council official as saying.
Hamas said about 650 patients and 5,000-7,000 civilians were trapped at the hospital, according to Reuters.
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