Early on Monday, the Israeli army pressed an operation in the Gaza Strip, deploying tanks and snipers to strike the Shifa hospital, the enclave’s largest medical complex. The assault occurred as thousands of displaced people sought refuge within its walls, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas.
“Intelligence indicates terrorists are present in the Shifa hospital area and using the facility to conduct terrorist activities. Forces are conducting a precise operation to disrupt these activities and detain the terrorists in the hospital grounds,” the Israeli army said.
Gaza’s health authorities described the strike as a massacre against patients, the wounded, displaced people and medical staff. They said Israeli forces fired directly at the hospital building where specialized surgeries occur, while missiles were launched toward the complex, and tanks and military vehicles were moved into the compound’s courtyards.
“It is a true tragedy and an attack on health institutions that breaches all international laws and norms,” a health ministry spokesperson stated about the fourth Israeli operation inside the hospital, which was ongoing at the time.
From two o’clock local time (00:00 GMT), the ministry said there were many dead and injured, and that anyone attempting to move near the medical site faced sniper and drone fire. The ministry also noted a fire at the hospital entrance due to intense fighting, causing asphyxia among women and children who had fled, and communications within the center were cut.
The army contended that troops had instructions to proceed with caution and to avoid harming patients, civilians, and medical personnel. It added that Arabic-speaking personnel were brought in to help dialogue with residents, who reportedly were not obliged to evacuate.
Military spokespeople asserted that humanitarian efforts would continue in the area during and after the operation, with food, water and medical supplies provided to patients and civilians inside the hospital complex.
Israel defended the operation as compliant with international law and accused Hamas of operating from hospitals and civilian infrastructure in a calculated, systematic manner that harms civilians indiscriminately.
“During the activity, terrorists opened fire on troops from inside the hospital. Real fire was returned, and impacts were observed,” the army said.
As evidence of the operation, the army released a recording of a conversation between a COGAT liaison and the hospital director, in which the director allegedly discusses Hamas’s “terrorist activities” at Shifa and the need to put an end to them.
Shifa is noted as the fourth hospital attack by Israel in the Gaza Strip. The first assault occurred in November, when the hospital was besieged for over ten days, thousands of displaced patients and staff were evacuated or detained, and weapons and material belonging to Hamas were reportedly seized.
In summary, the events surrounding Shifa highlight the ongoing and escalating confrontation, drawing sharp condemnations and deep concern from international observers about civilian safety and the protection of medical facilities in conflict zones. [attribution: Gaza Health Ministry]