srael renewed its operation at Gaza’s largest hospital Thursday, targeting what it maintains is a Hamas command centre concealed in a complex sheltering more than 2,000 civilians.
“Tonight we conducted a targeted operation into Shifa hospital. We continue to move forward,” Major General Yaron Finkelman, the head of Israeli military operations in Gaza, said in a social media post.
Gaza’s health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, said Thursday that Israeli bulldozers had “destroyed parts of the southern entrance” of the hospital.
Both Israel and its top ally the United States say Hamas have a command centre below the Al-Shifa complex, which has become a focal point in the 40-day-old war.
The Palestinian militant group and directors at the hospital have denied the charge.
Before Israeli forces first stormed the hospital complex on Wednesday, UN agencies estimated that 2,300 patients, staff and displaced civilians were sheltering at Al-Shifa.
“The protection of newborns, patients, medical staff and all civilians must override all other concerns,” UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said. “Hospitals are not battlegrounds.”
But Israel’s army claimed the initial raid had uncovered military equipment, weapons and what spokesman Daniel Hagari described as “an operational headquarters with comms equipment.”বিস্তারিত