Israel Is Now Attacking South Gaza’s Largest Hospital, Where Thousands Of Palestinian Civilians Are Sheltering
Like it did for other hospitals in Gaza, the Israeli military claimed, without providing evidence, that Hamas fighters are hiding inside Nasser hospital in Khan Younis.
Israeli forces have raided Nasser Hospital, the largest functioning hospital in southern Gaza, after laying siege to the complex for three weeks.
Like it did for other hospitals such as Al-Shifa in Gaza, the Israeli military claimed, without providing evidence, that Hamas fighters are hiding inside the hospital in Khan Yunis.
The Israeli military ordered thousands of Palestinian civilians sheltering in Nasser Hospital to evacuate on Tuesday, Feb. 13, saying that medical workers and patients could remain inside.
Video footage on social media showed that the Israeli army had sent a Palestinian hostage to the hospital to tell people to evacuate.
A second clip showed the Palestinian hostage was later killed by Israeli forces, an account that was corroborated by the head of surgery at Nasser Hospital.
Dozens of civilians who had been forced from their homes were seen evacuating the hospital on Wednesday, walking behind a doctor dressed in green scrubs and with some holding white flags.
However, witnesses and Doctors Without Borders said that thousands of people were too scared to leave because there were reports of people being shot on the way out.
The Israeli army also opened fire on people inside the hospital, including a doctor and a nurse, according to Al Jazeera.
Palestinian health officials said that more 2,500 people, including displaced workers, patients, medical workers and their families, were still inside the Nasser Hospital complex as of late Wednesday.
Doctors Without Borders said that about 400 patients were in a critical condition.
On Thursday, Feb. 15, Israeli forces stormed the hospital, saying they had launched a “limited operation” to search for Hamas fighters and the bodies of Israeli hostages.
Palestinian health authorities said that the Israeli military arrested medical staff and dug up graves.
Israel, meanwhile, said it had detained “a number of suspects” from the hospital.
Footage captured by Palestinian journalist Mohammad Salama showed medical staff rushing patients on stretchers through the building, which was filled smoke and dust asgunfire can be heard outside.
The World Health Organization said Israel had denied it access since Jan. 29, saying it tried to enter several times.
Al Jazeera reported that the bodies of people killed by Israeli snipers are still lying outside in the hospital compound because it was unsafe to reach them.
It still has yet to provide concrete evidence that Hamas was operating inside Al-Shifa – Gaza’s biggest hospital – after raiding it in November.
