Witnesses have reported the discovery of numerous bodies both inside the al-Shifa Medical Complex and scattered throughout the surrounding streets.
Following a two-week operation, Israel has pulled its forces out of Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital, leaving behind a scene of widespread devastation.
The Israeli military officially announced the sudden withdrawal on Monday, stating the conclusion of its operational activities in the area and claiming to have eliminated and captured numerous Hamas combatants. Eyewitnesses have recounted a grim aftermath of death and destruction at the medical facility, which had been providing shelter to a significant number of displaced Palestinians.
Confirming the retreat, the Israeli military stated, “Troops have concluded targeted operational activities in the vicinity of the Shifa Hospital and have vacated the premises.”
The military incursion into Gaza’s largest hospital, located in northern Gaza City, commenced on March 18, with the objective of targeting Hamas fighters believed to be utilizing the complex as a strategic base.
Throughout the conflict that erupted in October, Israeli forces have repeatedly besieged several hospitals in Gaza, asserting similar justifications for their actions. However, Hamas has refuted the allegations of utilizing al-Shifa or other medical facilities for military purposes.
Having previously endured a siege in November, al-Shifa Hospital now lies largely in ruins.
According to reports from Al Jazeera’s Ismail al-Ghoul at the scene, individuals are endeavoring to salvage whatever remains amidst the desolation. The hospital had been accommodating displaced individuals, in addition to housing numerous staff and patients.
Al-Ghoul lamented, “There is no sign of life here. The entire complex is in ruins and beyond recovery.”
He further added, “Structures across all departments have been razed, and the core infrastructure of the complex has been severely compromised. It appears evident that the occupying forces deliberately targeted the healthcare sector, resulting in the destruction of Gaza City’s primary medical facility.”
The Israeli military has characterized the operation as one of the most successful endeavors in the ongoing Gaza conflict, which has persisted for nearly six months.
Claiming to have eliminated a significant number of Hamas fighters, including high-ranking operatives, the military spokesperson disclosed that approximately 900 individuals suspected of being “militants” had been apprehended. Additionally, weapons, substantial intelligence, and over $3 million in various currencies were seized.
Emphasizing that the hospital raid was carried out with utmost care to prevent harm to civilians, patients, and medical personnel, the army’s narrative contrasts starkly with accounts from medical sources, which revealed the discovery of hundreds of bodies within the complex and in the vicinity.
Video footage circulating online depicted severely damaged and charred structures, heaps of debris churned up by bulldozers, and patients being transported on stretchers through dimly lit corridors.
Palestinians survey the destruction at Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital [AFP]
On a somber note, the head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reported that 21 patients had lost their lives since the onset of Israel’s siege.
During the prior Israeli incursion in November, the military had alleged the existence of an elaborate Hamas command and control center both inside and beneath al-Shifa, presenting video evidence of a network of tunnels and chambers. In response, Hamas dismissed Israel’s assertions as “lies and baseless propaganda.”
The conflict erupted following Hamas’s incursion into Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,100 individuals and the capture of nearly 250 individuals by the armed group.
In retaliation, Israel launched a comprehensive air, land, and sea offensive that has claimed the lives of over 32,000 Palestinians, displaced a significant portion of the population, and pushed a third of the residents to the brink of famine.