In another escalation of the conflict, drawing global condemnation, Israeli forces stormed al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Israeli officials claim the “precise operation” is based on confirmed intelligence that the hospital was being used by senior Hamas terrorists to plan and carry out attacks.
IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari elaborated, “The IDF is conducting a high-precision operation in limited areas of Shifa Hospital following actionable intelligence that necessitated immediate action. We have identified senior Hamas terrorists regrouping inside the hospital and using it to command attacks against Israel. This targeted mission is not just an operational necessity, but a global imperative.”
However, the IDF’s assurances of safety for patients, medical staff, and civilians within the complex appear to be at odds with the situation on the ground.
The Gaza Ministry of Health, in a message on Telegram, stated that the attack resulted in a large number of casualties. They also reported threats from the IDF, claiming that “anyone who tries to move is targeted by sniper bullets and quadcopter drones.”
Al Jazeera’s Arabic correspondents further reported that Israeli forces used loudspeakers to order hundreds of people sheltering at the hospital to evacuate. Footage verified by Al Jazeera’s verification unit shows dozens of Palestinians fleeing the facility as Israeli forces launch operations in the area.
Palestinian journalist Wadea Abu Alsoud, trapped inside the complex, described the situation in a video posted to Instagram as “catastrophic” and reported “intense clashes.”
