World

Israel Raids Main Gaza Hospital Amid Growing Concerns in Rafah

By James Mackenzie and Nidal al-Mughrabi

JERUSALEM/DOHA – On Thursday, Israeli forces conducted a raid at Nasser Hospital, the largest functioning medical facility in Gaza. Eyewitness footage depicted a scene of chaos, with shouting and gunfire echoing through smoke-filled corridors.

The Israeli military characterized the raid as "precise and limited," claiming it was executed based on intelligence suggesting that Hamas militants were sheltering within the hospital and had taken hostages there, with possible bodies of captives present. Hamas dismissed these assertions as false.

According to health officials in Gaza, numerous staff members, patients, and families seeking refuge were forcibly expelled from the hospital. Reports indicated that approximately 2,000 Palestinians sought safety in Rafah overnight, while others fled north to Deir Al-Balah.

The current conflict commenced on October 7 when Hamas launched an incursion into Israel, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, and the abduction of 253 hostages, as per Israeli estimates. The subsequent Israeli offensive has ravaged the densely populated Gaza Strip, leading to the deaths of over 28,600 people, predominantly civilians, and displacing nearly all of its over 2 million residents.

In ongoing military operations, Israel reported an airstrike that eliminated a Hamas commander implicated in the October 7 attack, who had also held a female Israeli soldier, subsequently executed by Hamas. Additionally, medical sources stated that an Israeli strike resulted in the deaths of three Palestinians traveling in a vehicle in Gaza City, though their identities remain unknown.

The Israeli military also confirmed the death of a soldier during clashes in southern Gaza, raising its total military fatalities since ground offensives began on October 20 to 235.

The medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières reported that Israeli shelling targeted Nasser Hospital during the night, despite prior assurances made to medical staff and patients that they could remain. The organization noted that its personnel had to abandon the facility, leaving patients behind, and reported that one staff member had been detained at an Israeli checkpoint established for those exiting the compound.

As conflict continues, Israel is under increasing international scrutiny to exercise restraint, especially as it intends to extend its offensive into Rafah, one of the last areas considered relatively secure in Gaza.

The extensive bombardment has severely impacted medical facilities, with numerous hospitals damaged and ambulances targeted. As residential neighborhoods have been devastated, hospitals have become refuges for those seeking safety.

Israel has accused Hamas of misusing medical facilities for military purposes and has released footage purportedly demonstrating tunnels connected to weapons beneath certain hospitals. The military announced the apprehension of several suspects at Nasser Hospital, with operations ongoing.

A senior Hamas leader refuted Israeli claims regarding Nasser and other hospitals, calling them fabrications.

Israeli Military’s Justification

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli military, emphasized that the raid was meticulously planned and carried out by specially trained forces. He stated that one of the intentions behind the operation was to ensure the hospital could continue to care for Gazan patients, noting that they had communicated this aim to hospital staff, and denying any obligation for evacuation.

However, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidra warned that fuel supplies for the hospital would be depleted within 24 hours, posing a grave risk to patients, including those in intensive care and newborns in the neonatal ward. Hagari mentioned that Israel had coordinated the transfer of medical supplies and fuel to the facility with international organizations.

Verified videos from within Nasser Hospital revealed scenes of panic, with individuals navigating through dimly lit corridors amidst debris and dust. In one clip, gunfire was audible as a doctor shouted for people to take cover.

Witness accounts echoed fears regarding safe passage, with one individual noting that attempts to leave were met with gunfire, forcing them back to the hospital. When given the opportunity to exit, they reported being confronted by military vehicles and prolonged exposure to the sun.

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