Israeli military withdraws from Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital after two-week siege

 

After a 14-day siege, Israeli military forces announced on Monday that they had left the Al-Shifa hospital facility in Gaza City.  The Israel Defense Forces, abbreviated as Shin Bet, claimed that "IDF and ISA personnel have completed precise operational operations in the region of the Shifa Hospital and evacuated the area of the hospital." "While preventing injury to bystanders, patients, and medical staff, the troops killed terrorists in close-quarters encounters and found numerous weapons and intelligence documents inside the facility." The major medical institution in the territory, the hospital, has been "totally demolished and burned down," a Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson on the ground .

According to Bassal, about thirty injured individuals were moved from Al-Shifa to the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, which is located east of Gaza City.  Photos from the scene revealed the complex's buildings to be completely destroyed, with several of them scorched and pockmarked.

November saw the first raid on Al-Shifa by the Israeli troops. Even though the IDF declared in January that it had finished destroying Hamas' command structure in northern Gaza, it still carried out its second military operation there.  Palestinians inside and near Al-Shifa alleged civilian casualties and arrests; however, the IDF has stated that residents, patients, and medical teams were evacuated throughout the operation.  The IDF has updated this item with a statement regarding its withdrawal from Al-Shifa.

A hospital spokesperson reported that at least two persons were killed on Sunday in an Israeli drone strike on tents outside the Al-Aqsa medical facility.  Along with numerous media teams operating out of tents in the vicinity, thousands of internally displaced civilians are taking refuge on the hospital grounds in the heart of Gaza. In the heart of Deir al-Balah, the only operational medical institution still standing is Al-Aqsa.

Journalists have uploaded videos of the aftermath, which depict fear as people scurried for cover and to help the injured.  According to the Israeli military, one of its planes hit terrorists who were operating out of the hospital's courtyard as well as a "functioning Islamic Jihad command center." It did not offer any proof to back up its assertion.

As of Sunday, the northern raid on Gaza's biggest hospital, Al-Shifa Hospital, had been ongoing for 14 days. Israel claims to have killed over 200 militants at the plant, however Palestinians in and around Al-Shifa have reported civilian deaths, arrests, and extensive damage.  According to Gaza's health ministry, Israel is preventing medical personnel and patients from leaving, leaving them without access to vital supplies.

According to Gaza's health ministry, Israel is preventing medical personnel and patients from leaving, leaving them without access to vital supplies.