The Israeli military recently acknowledged making a mistake in identifying individuals detained during a siege on Gaza's largest hospital. Initially, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released photos of 358 men, claiming they were terrorists apprehended during the conflict. However, the IDF later admitted to a 'human error,' stating that some of the individuals in the photos had not been detained and were actually seeking refuge at the hospital.
According to IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee, the misidentified individuals were hiding in the hospital area. The IDF also alleged that these individuals were barricaded inside the hospital, a claim that has not been independently verified. The IDF's admission of error followed reports of Israeli forces detaining Palestinian journalists and health workers at Al-Shifa Hospital, subjecting them to humiliating interrogations.
Eyewitnesses described how individuals were blindfolded, stripped down to their underwear, and left outside in the cold. Prior to the raid, the hospital was already overwhelmed, with over 3,000 displaced people, patients, and staff seeking shelter within its walls, as reported by the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
The incident at Al-Shifa Hospital has raised concerns about the treatment of detainees and the safety of medical facilities in conflict zones. The IDF's acknowledgment of the mistake underscores the challenges of accurately identifying individuals in the midst of a complex and volatile situation.
