The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have surrounded Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, amidst claims that Hamas has established an underground headquarters within the facility.
The situation has escalated as Hamas alleges that civilians were affected by an Israeli strike on the medical center overnight.
Overnight, Hamas-run local authorities accused the IDF of shelling areas around hospitals in the northern part of the coastal strip, including Al-Shifa, the Rantisi children’s hospital, and the Indonesian hospital.
Indonesia’s foreign ministry has also reported explosions near the Indonesian hospital, and Al Quds Hospital is reported to be surrounded by tanks.
An individual inside Al Quds Hospital informed the BBC of hearing ‘clashes and explosions.’
The IDF has strongly denied targeting the Indonesian hospital, stating, ‘The IDF did not target the hospital. The IDF does not target civilians and operates in accordance with international law.’
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Officials in Gaza reported that strikes on Al-Shifa hospital resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals.
A government statement mentioned, ‘Thirteen martyrs and dozens wounded in an Israeli strike on Al-Shifa compound today’ in central Gaza City. The AFP news agency indicated it was not immediately able to independently verify the toll.
Shocking footage from Al-Shifa hospital’s courtyard overnight appeared to capture one of the strikes, although its origin couldn’t be definitively confirmed.
Another video depicted the aftermath of a separate attack this morning.
As uncertainty surrounds the origin of the strikes on hospitals, Israel continues to launch missile attacks on other parts of Gaza.
Images from outside the strip display enormous plumes of smoke and debris being ejected hundreds of feet into the air.
Palestinian officials assert that over 10,800 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel initiated its bombardment in response to Hamas’s attack on October 7, which resulted in 1,400 casualties in Israel and 240 individuals being taken hostage.