Several news sites reported that the Israeli occupation forces imposed a siege on Al-Sifa Hospital in central Gaza City, at dawn on Wednesday. According to the Israeli army, this is because Hamas fighters are using civilians as human shields, while the building is being used as their headquarters. The organization denied these accusations.
Israeli forces are currently searching the basement of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. According to a spokesman for the Ministry of Health in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas. pic.twitter.com/heSaWlo3Sx
– OceanTechnical (@oceantechnical) November 15, 2023
According to news reports, thousands of patients and civilians remain in the hospital. Exact numbers vary, with the World Health Organization reporting that approximately 700 patients, 400 workers and 3,000 civilians remain there. Estimates of the Hamas-led Ministry of Health differ from this, as there could be 650 patients, 200-500 hospital employees, and 1,500 civilians in the building.. The situation around Sifah has been getting worse for days, water is not available, and electricity is not available. Communicating online has become more difficult.
Israeli forces enter Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza, targeting a Hamas command center underneath. Civilians and patients are caught in the crossfire as the IDF conducts a high-risk operation. #Gaza_crisis
-Suraj (Sreedhar) November 15, 2023
Cover image source: Ashraf Amra/Anadolu via Getty Images
