A week after the start of Israel’s military raid on Al-Shifa, the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, a picture of the ongoing assault on the complex and its surrounding area is starting to come together in pieces.
Residents nearby reported a constant barrage of gunshots, airstrikes, and explosions. A surgeon recounted how doctors and patients were confined to the emergency ward while Israeli forces took control of the area outside. A young Palestinian woman who sought refuge in the hospital for four days described the sight of bodies piled up outside the entrance.
Interviews with witnesses inside the hospital, residents in the vicinity, and officials in Gaza, as well as those who managed to leave the complex in the past week, painted a picture of fear, lack of basic necessities, interrogations, and detentions of Palestinian men by Israeli forces.
The assault on Al-Shifa, the longest hospital raid by Israel during the Gaza conflict, began with tanks, bulldozers, and airstrikes. The military claimed it was targeting senior Hamas officials in response to an attack on southern Israel by the group on October 7, which sparked the war in Gaza.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have intensified in recent weeks, with indirect talks taking place in Doha. Despite cautious optimism from mediators like Qatar, no breakthrough has been reached yet.
Israeli leaders have indicated their intention to launch a ground operation in Rafah, a southern city, regardless of a ceasefire deal. This has raised concerns about the safety of over a million Palestinians seeking refuge in the area.
Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has discussed alternatives to a major ground operation in Rafah with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant. Mr. Gallant is set to visit Washington for further discussions with US officials.
The raid on Al-Shifa has drawn international attention to the dire situation faced by hospitals and their patients, according to local authorities. Many of the 30,000 Palestinians seeking shelter at Al-Shifa were displaced again due to the raid.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 13 patients died as a result of the raid, either due to lack of medical care or when their ventilators stopped working after the electricity was cut off. These claims have not been independently verified.
Patients remaining at Al-Shifa were reported to be in critical condition, with signs of infection setting in.
The Director-General of the World Health Organization shared a report from a doctor at Al-Shifa, detailing the dire conditions faced by patients and medical staff.
In one building, medical workers and patients were reportedly kept in poor conditions with limited supplies.
Health workers expressed concern for their safety and that of their patients, calling for an end to the siege and safe access for medical care.
Dr. Tayseer al-Tanna, a surgeon, described the challenging conditions at Al-Shifa during the incursion by Israeli forces.
He declined to comment on allegations of Palestinian fighters using the hospital for military purposes.
The media office for the Gaza government accused the Israeli military of threatening the staff and occupants of Al-Shifa, leading to a difficult situation inside the hospital.
The Israeli military stated that it was operating in the area of the hospital while avoiding harm to civilians, patients, and medical teams.
Both Hamas and the Israeli military have made claims about the use of Al-Shifa for military purposes, with evidence pointing to Hamas using the hospital for cover and storing weapons.
American officials have also alleged that Hamas held hostages at the hospital.
The Palestinian Red Crescent reported that Israeli forces were besieging two more hospitals in Khan Younis, Al-Amal and Nasser.
The Palestinian Authority accused the Israeli military of violent actions at Nasser Hospital and attempting to disable all hospitals in Gaza.
Israeli forces were said to be operating in the Al-Amal area but not specifically targeting the hospitals.
Hamas confirmed clashes with Israeli forces near Al-Shifa, while witnesses described the detention and interrogation of men by Israeli soldiers in the area.
Residents in the surrounding neighborhood reported being trapped in their homes due to the siege, facing sniper fire, airstrikes, and drones.
The situation has led to destruction and fear among the residents, with concerns about their safety and access to basic necessities.
