In northern Gaza, the conflict between Israel and Hamas has not stopped becoming worse. In pursuit of Hamas fighters, Israeli soldiers have surrounded Gaza City and are moving their tanks closer to the city’s center. Israeli soldiers crept up on two large hospitals yesterday, Al Shifa Hospital and al-Quds Hospital, where residents had taken cover.
The local government, which Hamas controls, accused Israel of shooting in the area of several hospitals located in northern Gaza.
According to Hamas, overnight on Friday, there was gunfire at the Indonesian hospital, the Rantisi Children’s Hospital, and the Al-Shifa hospital, where an estimated 60,000 Palestinians have sought sanctuary. There were injuries but no fatalities from the Israeli army bombing. Israel has charged that Hamas conceals its military activities by utilizing hospitals, particularly Al-Shifa.
The big Al Shifa Hospital in downtown Gaza City is in the line of fire for Israel’s armed forces. Any Israeli attempt to take control of Al Shifa, however, would run the danger of significant civilian casualties and may incite international criticism. Videos from the area showed medical professionals rushing to treat a flood of injured individuals.
The largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, Al Shifa Hospital, is located around 1.2 kilometers (3/4 mile) from where Gaza City eyewitnesses observed Israeli tanks on Thursday. According to images, maps, and audio recordings provided by Israel’s military spokesperson, Hamas is hiding command centers and access points in a vast tunnel network beneath Gaza by employing Al Shifa.
The directors and health authorities of Al Shifa have refuted claims that the organization is hiding military equipment within or beneath the hospital complex. They have also stated that they would favor an international examination of the site.
Israel claimed that an ambulance at the hospital’s entrance last week was carrying Hamas fighters and attacked it. The bomb killed fifteen individuals, when the ambulance was attempting to transport injured patients.
