On Tuesday, the Israeli military intensified its operations around the Al-Shifa medical complex in Gaza City, amidst a tight siege on the facility following its raid.
This ongoing military action, which began in the early hours of Monday, is reported to have persisted into Tuesday at Gaza’s largest hospital complex. The Israeli army alleges the elimination of over 40 militants within and around the complex, currently encircled by tanks.
The Gaza Health Ministry highlighted the dire situation on Tuesday, stating that patients and medical staff within the Al-Shifa complex are enduring their second consecutive day of fasting without access to food or water, due to the blockade enforced by Israeli forces.
The ministry has issued a plea to international organizations to intervene and halt what it describes as atrocities committed against the hospital’s patients, wounded, and medical personnel.
Furthermore, the Gaza Government Media Office reported that the Israeli military’s actions have not only targeted militants but also resulted in civilian casualties.
According to their statement, Israeli forces executed a “bloody massacre,” killing 50 civilians and detaining approximately 200 individuals in operations within and surrounding the Al-Shifa complex.
The media office detailed the assault, noting that hundreds of Israeli soldiers, supported by military dogs, tanks, drones, and helicopters, participated in the raid.
This heavy military presence and the use of gunfire, shells, and rockets have led to the death and injury of over 250 civilians, including patients, displaced individuals, and other non-combatants within the medical facility.
Despite the Israeli military claiming the detention of over 200 people for interrogation within the complex, the Health Ministry has reported that among those detained are medical personnel, injured parties, and patients.
This attack also resulted in the confirmed killing of Fayiq Al-Mabhouh, identified by Israeli forces as a senior figure in Hamas’ internal security apparatus.
In contrast, the Gaza police have condemned the targeting of the director of police operations in the Gaza Strip, labeling it as a premeditated crime designed to sow chaos and undermine law and order in the region.
The surrounding neighborhoods of Rimal and Al-Nasr have also been subjected to extensive bombing, leading to significant destruction and forcing many residents to flee their homes.
The civil defense teams in these areas have documented the extensive damage, including the destruction of over 45 residential units and numerous casualties among civilians attempting to escape or assist the wounded.
This heightened military activity has been met with resistance from Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades, which claimed to have targeted Israeli military vehicles near the hospital with missiles.
Amidst these developments, the World Health Organization has voiced its grave concerns regarding the targeting of hospitals and the severe shortages of staff and essential medical supplies, calling for immediate international action to address this humanitarian crisis.
