Israel Defense Forces have reportedly surrounded the largest hospital in Gaza City, which they say is located above an underground Hamas command center.
Heavy fighting near al-Shifa Hospital took place on Friday and the Israeli army said it had killed dozens of militants and destroyed several tunnels known to Hamas terrorists where they housed leaders and stored weapons, according to CBS.
A missile landed in a hospital courtyard causing chaos as Israeli forces pushed deeper into Gaza Friday.
The IDF later told CNN that it concluded the missile was “a misfired projectile launched by a terrorist organization inside the Gaza Strip.”
The Israeli military has repeatedly accused Hamas militants of using the hospital in the area as cover and claimed Hamas commanders were hiding in tunnels beneath it.
They have said they want to control the hospitals so they are no longer under Hamas administration.
IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht clarified on Friday: “The IDF did not shoot the hospital. We are aware of the sensitivity of hospitals… [But] aware that Hamas is operating inside the hospital … We did not drop a bomb on Al-Shifa,” CBS reported.
Smoke rises as displaced Palestinians take shelter at Al-Shifa hospital earlier this week.REUTERS Footage shows what the Israeli military says is its armed forces deploying and firing weapons in Gaza.via REUTERS
Palestinian officials claimed that Israeli forces were close to other medical buildings on Friday, including an Indonesian hospital.
The World Health Organization reported “intense violence” and “significant” bombings at another medical center, the Rantissi hospital, early Friday.
“We were blocked in the hospital by tanks, and we were exposed to heavy fire against us. We have no electricity, no oxygen for the patients, no fresh water. The situation here is very difficult and dangerous,” said a staff member at Nasser Children’s Hospital on social media.
Eighteen of Gaza’s 35 hospitals are now out of business either due to damage or lack of fuel, the health ministry claimed. Drinking water is also almost completely depleted in Northern Gaza because the desalination plant is not working.
Hamas has been the de facto ruler of the Gaza Strip since 2006 – although the terrorist group seized power and has not allowed and vote or opposition since then.
As of Friday, Hamas’ armed wing said it was still firing rockets and bullets into Israel.
Israeli tanks have been in northern Gaza for about two weeks.via REUTERS Displaced Palestinians gather at Al-Shifa hospital.REUTERS Smoke is seen over Gaza City on Thursday.REUTERS
However, the Israeli military has previously warned of Hamas’ brutality and disregard for life, and that the organization will use public infrastructure to its advantage, saying: “While the world sees neighborhoods with schools, hospitals, scout groups, children’s playgrounds and mosque, Hamas sees an opportunity to exploit.”
IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari acknowledged on Friday that it is engaged in a “complicated and difficult war” and that “at this stage, the army is operating deep in Gaza City, capturing Hamas strongholds and fighting terrorists,” according to CNN.
Israeli tanks have been moving through northern Gaza for more than two weeks in response to the deadly Hamas terror attack on October 7, which killed more than 1,400 people and held more than 240 hostages.
Those who remain are trying to escape from northern Gaza across checkpoints into southern Gaza, with Israeli forces giving four-hour breaks each day in fighting for people to leave.
Airstrikes on Gaza continued into Friday night, as the United Nations estimated 200,000 people were displaced in Gaza and 45% of housing was damaged or destroyed in the two-week offensive by IDF forces.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
