Israel's military has pulled out from Al-Shifa, Gaza's largest hospital, following a 14-day siege that has left the complex in ruins. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed their withdrawal on Monday, stating that they had eliminated a terrorist base, killed Hamas militants, and seized weaponry and intelligence documents.
Medical crews are currently working to recover bodies scattered across the hospital grounds, with at least 300 bodies found so far. The exact number of casualties is challenging to determine due to the destruction caused by the siege.
The IDF reported detaining 900 suspected militants during the operation, with over 500 identified as members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The hospital, which housed around 3,000 people when the raid began on March 18, has been severely damaged, with many buildings destroyed or charred.
Images from the area show widespread destruction, with several wounded individuals transferred to another hospital for treatment. The situation inside Al-Shifa is dire, with survivors malnourished and facing severe shortages of essential resources.
International organizations, including the World Health Organization, have condemned the siege, emphasizing that hospitals should never be targets of conflict. Concerns about a looming famine in northern Gaza have also been raised, with a significant portion of the population facing catastrophic levels of hunger.
The United States has supported Israel's actions, citing concerns about Hamas using the hospital as a command center. However, questions remain about the long-term impact of the siege on Gaza's civilian population and the ability to achieve lasting peace in the region.
