What is known about the Israeli army’s raid on Al Shifa Hospital, the largest in Gaza

The military forces of Israel They entered on Wednesday Al Shifa Hospitalthe largest in the Gaza Strip and where the Israelis claim to be the command center of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. In the building, in addition to patients, there are thousands of people who sought refuge after the start of the Israeli bombings on October 7.

The Israeli army first reported that he was carrying out “a precise and selective operation” against Hamas in Al-Shifa.

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According to a report by the AFP agency, Dozens of Israeli soldiers stormed the Al Shifa hospital asking that “all men aged 16 and older” leave “hands up” (…) towards the inner courtyard to surrender.”

Soldiers then questioned people at the hospital, frisking women, while children could be seen crying.

The soldiers went from room to room, shooting in the air, looking for fighters of Hamasindicated the AFP report.

The tanks also entered the hospital complex and they stationed themselves in front of several of their services.

Israel has said that he believes that in the basement of Al Shifa Hospital Hamas held captive the hostages it took from its territory on October 7, after a surprise attack that left at least 1,200 dead. There would be around 240 people kidnapped.

Since October 7, the forces of Israel They relentlessly attack Gaza Stripleaving more than 11,300 dead, 29,200 injured and 3,600 missing under the rubble.

He Al Shifa Hospital It was left without electricity, drinking water and food several days ago. It houses around 9,000 people, including displaced people, medical personnel and patients, among whom are more than 30 premature babies whose life is in danger.

The hospitals are protected in times of war by the rules of the International human rightbut they lose said protection if it is proven that one of the parties is using them militarily.

This is what is known up to the moment of the raid on the Al Shifa Hospital:

Clashes with Hamas

Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israeli Army, said Wednesday that before entering the hospital, the troops “found explosive devices and terrorist cells, and a confrontation began in which terrorists were killed.” He did not specify the number of deaths. He also did not report any fighting inside the hospital.

The Israeli army claims that had given Palestinian militants 12 hours to cease all military activities inside the hospitaland called “to all terrorists of Hamas present at the hospital to surrender.”

The troops deployed at the hospital “include Arabic-speaking medical teams, who have received specific training to prepare for this complex and sensitive environment, with the intention that no harm is caused to civilians who Hamas used as human shields,” he asserted. Hagari.

He also said that the army brought “incubators, baby food and medical supplies”and that his troops “facilitated large-scale evacuations of the hospital.”

“Our operation that began in the early hours of this morning in the area of Al Shifa Hospital was precise, located in [un] specific place within the hospital grounds, within the hospital complex. And in fact, was based on operational need and intelligence, and the operation is in progress. “I will not go into details about where or how the activities are carried out, but I can confirm that they are ongoing,” the spokesperson told CNN. Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Peter Lerner.

They warned 30 minutes before

A doctor of Al-Shifa Hospital He told CNN that they were notified 30 minutes before the Israeli operation began.

“They asked us to stay away from windows and balconies. We can hear the armored vehicles, they are very close to the entrance to the complex,” said Dr. Khaled Abu Samra.

CNN asked the IDF spokesperson if they had informed officials in Loop before entering the hospital. “We work on the basis of international humanitarian law and the laws of armed conflict. And as we approached the hospital, we actually informed the administrators to stay away from the windows to make sure that the patients and civilians inside the complex stay away from the windows and take cover because we intend to carry out our military operation to differentiate and distinguish between civilians and terrorists,” he responded Lerner.

There are no signs of the presence of hostages

Israeli radio reported Wednesday that The military has not yet found any indication that there are hostages inside Al Shifa Hospital.

The station assured that searches continue within the complex.

Tanks in the hospital courtyard

The israeli tanks and military vehicles were stationed in the courtyard of the Al Shifa HospitalPalestinian journalist Khader Al Za’anoun, a reporter for the Palestinian news agency Wafa, told CNN.

He added that Israeli soldiers were “in buildings and apartments carrying out search and interrogation operations with young people.” in the midst of intense and violent gunshots inside the hospital.”

Al Za’anoun maintained that The Israeli army “is asking young people through megaphones to raise their hands, get out and surrender”.

“They attacked evacuees and medical personnel”

He Gaza Ministry of Healthcontrolled by Hamasaccused the Israeli army of attacking medical personnel and evacuees inside the Al Shifa Hospital.

“We hold the occupation responsible for the lives of our patients, medical staff and evacuees,” said the general director of Health Hospitals, Mohamed Zaqout.

He added that the soldiers also interrogated several hospital doctors “for hours” in side rooms and that They opened fire on those who left the hospital complex.

Zaqout said he witnessed people handcuffed, stripped of their clothes and blindfolded.

“We have lost contact inside the building”

Mohamed Zaqout told Al Jazeera news network that people inside Al Shifa hospital have lost contact with other buildings in the complex.

“We have lost contact with other buildings in the hospital complex,” Zaqout said. “We don’t know what is happening outside, all we hear are explosions, gunshots, screams of elderly people and cries of children.”

Hundreds of detainees

Palestinian media pointed out that at least 200 people would be detained in Al Shifa Hospitalbetween medical personnel and evacuees.

The director of Al Shifa HospitalMohamed Abu Salmiya, reported that the Israeli army remains deployed in several buildings on the compound, including the dialysis department; and that medical personnel cannot access the pharmacy to supply medications to patients, since “the occupation shoots at everything that moves,” according to a review by the EFE agency.

Abu Salmiya indicated that there is no water, electricity or oxygen in any department of the hospital, and that he has not been able to communicate with many of his doctors to consult about the status of patients, “particularly premature babies.”

“The smell of death smells everywhere, from the emergency room to the last hospital building,” stated the director of the hospital, who also mentioned that the wounds of many patients are rotting due to the absence of antibiotics and the suspension of hospital services.

Hamas talks about war crime

The press office of the Gaza Government, controlled by Hamasasserted that The Israeli army stormed the Al Shifa Hospital with tanks, explosives, drones and heavily armed soldiers, “shooting inside”, which constitutes a “war crime”.

“The occupation Army fired shots inside the complex, unleashing fear and panic among the wounded, sick and displaced, in a war crime that adds to its black record,” the Gaza government said in a statement.

The government of Hamas He also accused the Israeli soldiers of having “beat” and “insulted” the wounded and displaced people who were inside the hospital, in addition to forcing some of them to take off their clothes to search them “under threats of death.”