Israel’s Raid on Gaza Hospital Enters Fourth Day, Killing Dozens
One of Israel’s longest hospital raids of the Gaza war has extended into a fourth day, with the military claiming to have killed dozens of people it identified as terrorists in its operation at Al-Shifa Hospital.
The Israeli military has targeted Al-Shifa in northern Gaza, alleging that Hamas has used it as a command center and hidden weapons and fighters in underground tunnels. Since the start of the latest attack on Monday, more than 140 individuals labeled as terrorists have been reported killed by the Israeli military in and around the hospital.
On Thursday, the military announced that 600 people had been detained at the hospital, although these claims could not be independently verified. Reports from Al Jazeera and Wafa, the Palestinian Authority’s news agency, indicated that a building used for surgery at the hospital had been blown up by Israeli forces, but the military declined to comment on these reports.
Residents in the area, like Iyad Elejel who lives near Al-Shifa, described the situation as “very terrifying,” with constant sounds of clashes, gunshots, and bombings throughout the day and night. Elejel mentioned that smoke had filled his apartment, making it difficult to breathe, and that the neighborhood was being evacuated by Israeli soldiers.
The World Health Organization had planned to provide aid to the hospital on Thursday, but security concerns prevented their mission. Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, representing the organization in Gaza and the West Bank, expressed deep worry about the situation at Al-Shifa, noting the inability to contact staff members there.
The raid on Al-Shifa has reignited criticism of Israel’s military actions around hospitals and the impact on civilians caught in the crossfire. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has raised concerns about the human cost of Israel’s campaign against Hamas, with tens of thousands of civilians reportedly killed or injured.
As the raid continues, the international community watches closely, hoping for a swift resolution to the violence and a return to peace in the region.
