“A targeted operation in the area of al-Chifa hospital. » The Israeli army announced in a press release this Monday, March 18 early in the morning, an operation on the large hospital in Gaza City which would be used “by high-ranking Hamas terrorists”. Witnesses on site confirmed to AFP that exchanges of fire and fighting began shortly before dawn in the compound and around the hospital complex.
“During the operation, the terrorists opened fire on the troops from the hospital”explains another joint statement from the army and Israeli internal intelligence. “The troops responded by shooting”he continues, suggesting that individuals had been hit by the shots.
The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that ” dozens of thousands “ people were in the hospital. One of the buildings is on fire “following an airstrike”he added, deploring “dozens of martyrs”some bodies having been brought from the surroundings of the hospital, others remaining on the roadway, “no one could transport them to the hospital due to the intensity of the shooting”.
“Drones shoot people in the streets”
On site, witnesses confirmed to AFP “air operations” on the al-Rimal neighborhood where the hospital is located, the largest in the Gaza Strip, in which people are said to have fallen “shrapnel”. Residents of this central neighborhood of Gaza City said that “more than 45 Israeli tanks and armored personnel carriers” had entered al-Rimal. Some report ” fights “ around the hospital.
The Israeli army addresses residents through loudspeakers, asking them to stay at home while “drones shoot people in the streets near the hospital”according to witnesses on site interviewed by AFP.
Israeli troops received “instructions on the importance of operating with caution, as well as measures to take to avoid harm to patients, civilians, medical personnel”indicates the army press release. “Arabic speaking people were brought on site to facilitate exchanges with patients”he adds, “patients and medical staff are not required to evacuate”.
Israel accuses hospital of harboring ‘terrorist activities’
The army also released what it said was an extract from a telephone exchange that took place ” the last days “ between the Israeli Coordination and Liaison Administration (CLA) and an official from the Ministry of Health in Gaza, during which his representative explained that he was ” ready “ to provide assistance if “terrorist activities” within the hospital cease. The first accusations surrounding the presence of Hamas in Al-Chifa’s infrastructure date back to 2009.
“We confirm that the accounts of the occupation [d’Israël, NDLR] are false »declared the Palestinian movements active in the Gaza Strip in a joint statement. “Hospitals are civilian buildings dedicated to health, which have done nothing that contravenes their tasks as defined by international humanitarian law. »
Al-Chifa has seen its team reduced and is no longer operating at a minimum since a first attack by the Israeli army on November 15, widely condemned internationally. After this major operation, the Tsahal, which already accused the hospital of serving as Hamas HQ, said it had found “munitions, weapons and military equipment”which the Palestinian Islamist movement has denied.
Since the start of the war in Gaza, the death toll of which stands at 31,645 according to the Hamas Ministry of Health, the Israeli army has carried out operations in several hospitals in the Palestinian territory.
Source : Nouvelobs
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