Israeli Troops Enter Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital Amid Deadly Siege
Israeli troops entered Gaza’s biggest hospital on Wednesday to search its rooms and basement amid an ongoing siege that has caused global concern for the fate of thousands of civilians and patients inside.
Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City, a main target of the ground operation by Israeli forces, has been the site of a days-long standoff after troops claimed to have found a network of tunnels beneath it, which Hamas denies.
The military released photos of a soldier standing beside medical supplies and baby food, stating that they successfully reached the hospital. However, concerns remain for those trapped inside without power and basic medical equipment.
Dr. Ahmed El Mohallalati, a surgeon at the hospital, expressed relief that the Israeli troops moved inside the grounds, but also worries about the ordeal his patients and the hospital staff had to face. He described the situation as dire—Israeli forces had targeted the hospital with various weapons during their siege.
International aid chief Martin Griffiths wrote, “The protection of newborns, patients, medical staff and all civilians must override all other concerns. Hospitals are not battlegrounds.”
The Red Cross has called the occupation of the hospital a violation of Geneva Conventions, and said the protection of the civilian population is paramount.
Israel’s promise of delivering medical supplies is seen as a small consolation in the face of an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza. UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, said it had received only half a tanker of fuel for Gaza, describing it as just 9% of the most basic daily needs.
International condemnation and calls for a peaceful resolution have grown as the conflict shows no signs of slowing down. Israel launched its campaign to annihilate Hamas after a deadly incursion into its territory, marking the deadliest day in its history. Pursuing a strategy of collective punishment, Israel put Gaza’s entire population under siege, resulting in a dire humanitarian crisis. The reported deaths of newborn babies in recent days at Al Shifa hospital have intensified international alarm.
The continued conflict, and its dire humanitarian impact on the people of Gaza, highlight the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing violence.