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| IDF says it has entered Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital in ‘targeted’ operation against Hamas | IDF says it has entered Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital in ‘targeted’ operation against Hamas |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Gaza health ministry says tanks and ‘dozens of soldiers’ inside complex where thousands of Palestinian patients, doctors and displaced people are believed to be sheltering | Gaza health ministry says tanks and ‘dozens of soldiers’ inside complex where thousands of Palestinian patients, doctors and displaced people are believed to be sheltering |
| Israel’s military has said it was carrying out a raid against Hamas in al-Shifa hospital early on Wednesday, conducting what it called a “precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area” of the medical complex. | Israel’s military has said it was carrying out a raid against Hamas in al-Shifa hospital early on Wednesday, conducting what it called a “precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area” of the medical complex. |
| Less than an hour earlier, around 1am local time, a Gaza health ministry spokesperson said Israel had told officials in the territory that it would raid the hospital complex “in the coming minutes”. Al-Shifa is Gaza’s biggest hospital. | Less than an hour earlier, around 1am local time, a Gaza health ministry spokesperson said Israel had told officials in the territory that it would raid the hospital complex “in the coming minutes”. Al-Shifa is Gaza’s biggest hospital. |
| Dr Munir al-Bursh, director-general of the Gaza health ministry, told Al Jazeera television that Israeli forces had raided the western side of the sprawling site. “There are big explosions and dust entered the areas where we are. We believe an explosion occurred inside the hospital,” Bursh said. | Dr Munir al-Bursh, director-general of the Gaza health ministry, told Al Jazeera television that Israeli forces had raided the western side of the sprawling site. “There are big explosions and dust entered the areas where we are. We believe an explosion occurred inside the hospital,” Bursh said. |
| A White House official, speaking after the operation was announced, said it does not want to see a firefight in a hospital. A spokesperson for the National Security Council, who did not wish to be named, said: “We do not support striking a hospital from the air and we don’t want to see a firefight in a hospital where innocent people, helpless people, sick people trying to get medical care they deserve are caught in the crossfire.” | A White House official, speaking after the operation was announced, said it does not want to see a firefight in a hospital. A spokesperson for the National Security Council, who did not wish to be named, said: “We do not support striking a hospital from the air and we don’t want to see a firefight in a hospital where innocent people, helpless people, sick people trying to get medical care they deserve are caught in the crossfire.” |
| The fate of al-Shifa has become a focus of international alarm because of worsening conditions in the facility in recent days with global calls for a humanitarian ceasefire after five weeks of an Israeli assault on Gaza. | The fate of al-Shifa has become a focus of international alarm because of worsening conditions in the facility in recent days with global calls for a humanitarian ceasefire after five weeks of an Israeli assault on Gaza. |
| There are between 600 and 650 inpatients at al-Shifa, as well as 200 to 500 health workers, and about 1,500 displaced people seeking shelter there, according to information shared with the World Health Organization, which was posted on Sunday on X. | There are between 600 and 650 inpatients at al-Shifa, as well as 200 to 500 health workers, and about 1,500 displaced people seeking shelter there, according to information shared with the World Health Organization, which was posted on Sunday on X. |
| In a statement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said: “Based on intelligence information and an operational necessity, IDF forces are carrying out a precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area in the Shifa hospital”. | In a statement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said: “Based on intelligence information and an operational necessity, IDF forces are carrying out a precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area in the Shifa hospital”. |
| The military called on Hamas forces to surrender and added: “The IDF forces include medical teams and Arabic speakers, who have undergone specified training to prepare for this complex and sensitive environment, with the intent that no harm is caused to the civilians.” | The military called on Hamas forces to surrender and added: “The IDF forces include medical teams and Arabic speakers, who have undergone specified training to prepare for this complex and sensitive environment, with the intent that no harm is caused to the civilians.” |
| The operation unfolded after the military seized broader control of northern Gaza on Tuesday, including capturing the territory’s legislature building and its police headquarters, in gains that carried high symbolic value. | The operation unfolded after the military seized broader control of northern Gaza on Tuesday, including capturing the territory’s legislature building and its police headquarters, in gains that carried high symbolic value. |
| Israel has claimed Hamas has a command centre underneath al-Shifa and uses the hospital and tunnels beneath it to conceal military operations and to hold hostages. Hamas denies the claim. | Israel has claimed Hamas has a command centre underneath al-Shifa and uses the hospital and tunnels beneath it to conceal military operations and to hold hostages. Hamas denies the claim. |
| Israeli army spokesperson Lt Col Peter Lerner told CNN the hospital and compound were for Hamas “a central hub of their operations, perhaps even the beating heart and maybe even a centre of gravity”. | Israeli army spokesperson Lt Col Peter Lerner told CNN the hospital and compound were for Hamas “a central hub of their operations, perhaps even the beating heart and maybe even a centre of gravity”. |
| The US said on Tuesday that its own intelligence supported Israel’s conclusions. | The US said on Tuesday that its own intelligence supported Israel’s conclusions. |
| Hamas said on Wednesday that US announcement had in effect given a “green light” for Israel to raid the hospital. The group said it held Israel and US president Joe Biden fully responsible for the operation. | Hamas said on Wednesday that US announcement had in effect given a “green light” for Israel to raid the hospital. The group said it held Israel and US president Joe Biden fully responsible for the operation. |
| Gaza’s health ministry was quoted by Palestinian news agency Shebab as saying that “dozens of soldiers” had entered the al-Shifa emergency department building, and that tanks had entered the complex. | Gaza’s health ministry was quoted by Palestinian news agency Shebab as saying that “dozens of soldiers” had entered the al-Shifa emergency department building, and that tanks had entered the complex. |
| Hours later, Gaza health ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra told Al Jazeera: “The occupation army is now in the basement, and searching the basement. They are inside the complex, shooting and carrying out bombings”. | |
| A witness inside al-Shifa has told the BBC’s correspondent in Palestine, Rushdi Abu Alouf, that soldiers had entered the complex and “fired a smoke bomb that caused people to suffocate”. Khader Al-Zaanoun told Abu Alouf: “I saw the soldiers entering the specialised surgical department.” | A witness inside al-Shifa has told the BBC’s correspondent in Palestine, Rushdi Abu Alouf, that soldiers had entered the complex and “fired a smoke bomb that caused people to suffocate”. Khader Al-Zaanoun told Abu Alouf: “I saw the soldiers entering the specialised surgical department.” |
| The Guardian has not been able to independently verify the claims. | The Guardian has not been able to independently verify the claims. |
| Israeli forces have waged fierce street battles against Hamas fighters over the past 10 days before advancing into the centre of Gaza City and surrounding al Shifa. | Israeli forces have waged fierce street battles against Hamas fighters over the past 10 days before advancing into the centre of Gaza City and surrounding al Shifa. |
| Israel has sworn to destroy Hamas in retaliation for the militants’ cross-border assault into Israel on 7 October. Israel says Hamas killed 1,200 people in the rampage and took more than 240 hostage. | Israel has sworn to destroy Hamas in retaliation for the militants’ cross-border assault into Israel on 7 October. Israel says Hamas killed 1,200 people in the rampage and took more than 240 hostage. |
| Palestinians trapped in the hospital dug a mass grave on Tuesday to bury patients who died and no plan was in place to evacuate babies despite Israel announcing an offer to send portable incubators, Qidra said. He said there were about 100 bodies decomposing inside and no way to get them out. | |
| UN Secretary-General António Guterres was deeply disturbed by the “dramatic loss of life” in the hospitals, his spokesperson said. “In the name of humanity, the secretary-general calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” the spokesperson told reporters. | UN Secretary-General António Guterres was deeply disturbed by the “dramatic loss of life” in the hospitals, his spokesperson said. “In the name of humanity, the secretary-general calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire,” the spokesperson told reporters. |
| Medical officials in Hamas-run Gaza say more than 11,000 people are confirmed dead from Israeli strikes, about 40% of them children, and countless others trapped under rubble. | Medical officials in Hamas-run Gaza say more than 11,000 people are confirmed dead from Israeli strikes, about 40% of them children, and countless others trapped under rubble. |
| Around two-thirds of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been made homeless, unable to escape the territory where food, fuel, fresh water and medical supplies are running out. | Around two-thirds of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been made homeless, unable to escape the territory where food, fuel, fresh water and medical supplies are running out. |
| Israeli defence officials said they have agreed to allow some fuel shipments into the Gaza Strip for humanitarian operations. It was the first time that Israel has allowed fuel into the besieged territory since Hamas’ bloody cross-border invasion on 7 October. | Israeli defence officials said they have agreed to allow some fuel shipments into the Gaza Strip for humanitarian operations. It was the first time that Israel has allowed fuel into the besieged territory since Hamas’ bloody cross-border invasion on 7 October. |
| Israel’s move on al-Shifa hospital has raised questions about how it would interpret international laws on protection of medical facilities and the thousands of displaced people sheltering there, UN human rights officials have said. | Israel’s move on al-Shifa hospital has raised questions about how it would interpret international laws on protection of medical facilities and the thousands of displaced people sheltering there, UN human rights officials have said. |
| Hospitals are protected buildings under international humanitarian law. But allegations that Shifa is also being used for military purposes complicated the situation because that would also breach international law, UN officials have said. | Hospitals are protected buildings under international humanitarian law. But allegations that Shifa is also being used for military purposes complicated the situation because that would also breach international law, UN officials have said. |
| Medical units used for acts harmful to the enemy, and which have ignored a warning to stop doing so, lose their special protection under international law. | Medical units used for acts harmful to the enemy, and which have ignored a warning to stop doing so, lose their special protection under international law. |
| Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director for Human Rights Watch, said before Israel’s raid that even if Hamas was proven to be using hospitals to conduct military operations, international law required that effective warnings be given before attacks. | Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director for Human Rights Watch, said before Israel’s raid that even if Hamas was proven to be using hospitals to conduct military operations, international law required that effective warnings be given before attacks. |
| Israel said in its statement on Wednesday that it had given Gaza authorities 12 hours to cease military activities within the hospital. “Unfortunately, it did not,” the military statement said. | Israel said in its statement on Wednesday that it had given Gaza authorities 12 hours to cease military activities within the hospital. “Unfortunately, it did not,” the military statement said. |
| With Reuters and Associated Press | With Reuters and Associated Press |