Recent reports from Gaza's Civil Defense have revealed a distressing situation at the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. Following the Israeli military's withdrawal from the medical complex, over 300 bodies have been discovered on the premises. The Civil Defense stated that all individuals who had previously requested rescue assistance around the Shifa Complex had tragically passed away.
The exact number of casualties is challenging to ascertain due to Israeli forces reportedly burying bodies both inside and around the Al-Shifa complex, as well as bulldozing nearby roads. Unfortunately, independent verification of these numbers is hindered by restricted reporting access to the strip.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently ended a 14-day siege of the Al-Shifa hospital, claiming that the complex was being utilized by armed militants. The IDF has not responded to inquiries regarding the reported casualties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that more than 200 militants were killed in the hospital during the operation.
According to a spokesperson, the IDF detained 900 suspected militants in the two-week-long operation, with over 500 identified as members of Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Some of those detained were described as high-ranking figures within these organizations. The spokesperson alleged that Hamas and PIJ were regrouping in the northern part of the Gaza Strip and were using Al-Shifa as a base for their activities.
Israel maintains that its operations in and around the hospital were part of a targeted anti-terror mission, emphasizing efforts to minimize civilian casualties. The situation at Al-Shifa hospital underscores the complex and tragic realities of the conflict in the region.
