The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip has once again escalated, with Israel’s military calling on Gazans to evacuate the area surrounding the territory’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa. The battles raging at the hospital, which is crowded with patients and displaced people, have prompted the Israeli army to launch an operation in the area.
The Israeli army spokesman, Avichay Adraee, took to social media to instruct all those present in and around Al-Shifa to immediately evacuate the area for their own security. The army advised evacuees to head west and then south to a designated humanitarian area. Witnesses reported air strikes on the devastated neighborhood where the hospital is located, with tanks surrounding the site.
This is not the first time that the Israeli army has targeted Al-Shifa. In November, a similar operation sparked international outcry. Tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the ongoing conflict have sought shelter in the hospital complex, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals and other medical centers for military operations, a claim that the militant group denies.
The Hamas government media office in Gaza condemned the latest operation at Al-Shifa, labeling it a war crime. The Israeli military, however, maintains that its operations are based on intelligence indicating the use of the hospital by senior Hamas terrorists. Despite the military presence in the area, the Israeli army has assured that there is no obligation for patients and medical staff to evacuate.
Since the conflict began, the Israeli military has carried out several operations on medical facilities around the Gaza Strip. The war was triggered by an unprecedented attack from Gaza on October 7, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. Israel believes that about 130 hostages remain in Gaza, including soldiers and civilians presumed dead.
Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas and has launched a relentless bombardment and ground offensive in Gaza. The health ministry in the Palestinian territory reports a high number of casualties, with most of them being women and children. The Israeli military has emphasized the importance of operating cautiously to avoid harm to patients, civilians, medical staff, and medical equipment.
Following previous operations at Al-Shifa, the Israeli military claimed to have found weapons and military equipment hidden at the site, as well as a tunnel in the basement where hostages were allegedly held. These claims have been denied by Hamas. The United Nations reports that 155 health facilities in the Gaza Strip have been damaged since the conflict began.
The situation in Gaza remains volatile, with ongoing clashes and humanitarian concerns at the forefront. As the conflict continues to unfold, efforts to protect civilians and medical facilities are crucial to prevent further loss of life and ensure access to essential healthcare services for those in need.