Israeli forces conduct new operation at Gaza's main hospital, former battleground

On Monday, the Israeli military started an operation targeting Al-Shifa, Gaza's biggest hospital where many people are seeking shelter.

According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), they believed that "senior Hamas terrorists" were using the hospital to carry out and support terrorist activities. Later that day, Israel stated that "terrorist forces" were attacking IDF soldiers. CNN is unable to confirm these claims independently.

The IDF instructed residents and displaced persons near the large medical complex in northern Gaza to move to a designated "humanitarian zone" further south. However, this directive was issued after the hospital had already been surrounded, as reported by a witness.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza stated that approximately 30,000 individuals were taking shelter inside Al-Shifa, with those trying to leave being targeted by snipers and helicopter fire. Hamas accused Israel of attacking locations "without consideration" for the patients and medical staff present, a sentiment shared by individuals at the facility.

Hamada Abdelhadi, a displaced Palestinian man seeking shelter at Al-Shifa, reported that military vehicles are shooting at the hospital buildings' windows and anyone moving between the hallways.

Targeting hospitals during war is against international law, but the rules may change if enemy fighters are using the hospital to launch attacks.

The IDF has stated that it will follow international law and has trained its troops on the need to be careful and take steps to prevent harm to patients, civilians, medical staff, and equipment.

Eyewitnesses have reported chaotic scenes at and near the complex. CNN footage captured scenes of injured individuals among the debris, and bodies being recovered from the rubble, about a kilometer away from Al-Shifa.

Videos from Al Jazeera captured the aftermath of airstrikes near the hospital, where thick smoke filled the air and streets were littered with dust and debris from damaged buildings. In one scene, individuals desperately searched through rubble to rescue a young victim, while another showed families fleeing in fear after a loud missile hit.

A witness residing in Gaza City reported to CNN seeing a significant number of tanks moving towards Al-Shifa, indicating a potential escalation of conflict.

Smoke rises as displaced Palestinians take shelter at Al Shifa hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, November 8, 2023. REUTERS/Doaa Rouqa

Smoke rises as displaced Palestinians take shelter at Al Shifa hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, in Gaza City, November 8, 2023. REUTERS/Doaa Rouqa

Doaa Rouqa/Reuters/FILE

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What we know about what Israel says it has found at Al-Shifa

Abdelhadi, the man sheltering at Al-Shifa, said the operation began “suddenly” at 2:38 a.m. local time.

"During the incident, individuals on the hospital grounds were shot at, resulting in casualties. Some lost their lives, while others sustained injuries. The Israeli forces removed the deceased and injured individuals," he reported to CNN over the phone.

He mentioned that a number of people have been taken into custody. Al Jazeera released a statement revealing that one of its reporters, Ismail Al-Ghoul, along with his team, were arrested and subjected to physical assault before being transported to an unknown location. CNN has contacted the IDF for their response.

Abdelhadi reported that Israeli military vehicles and bulldozers were demolishing and excavating within the hospital premises. He mentioned that Israeli forces used loudspeakers to instruct people to remain indoors and advanced towards the corridors, posing a risk to those moving between hallways.

He also shared that the cries of women and children were continuous, with the sound of screaming escalating with each artillery shell fired.

Shelling continued into Monday afternoon, as reported by Abdelhadi.

There was a doctor named Abdullah Mohammed at the scene who mentioned on Monday afternoon that the Al-Shifa surgical building, filled with young people, had caught fire from being struck four times by Israeli missile attacks.

Mohammed shared on X, formerly Twitter, that everyone in the building has had major operations and cannot leave.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed deep concern about the situation. In a post on X on Monday, he stated that "hospitals should never be places of conflict."

Al-Shifa was at the center of the conflict during the war between Israel and Hamas. Israel claimed that Hamas had a command center in tunnels under the hospital complex, but Hamas denied this. In November, Israel conducted a targeted operation in the complex, causing heavy damage to the main building. As a result, the hospital struggled to function, with doctors working in difficult conditions. Sadly, many patients died due to the lack of electricity.

The United States supported Israel's claim about Hamas operating under Al-Shifa. The IDF even brought journalists, including a CNN team, to see the tunnels. However, the evidence did not conclusively prove that there was a Hamas command center under the hospital as Israel had alleged.

Palestinians accuse Israel of showing no concern for civilian lives in Gaza during the clashes near Al-Shifa. Meanwhile, Israel argues that Hamas is using civilians as human shields.

In November, Israel advised people living in northern Gaza to move to the south for safety during the initial round of fighting at Al-Shifa.

The people in Gaza who have survived are now experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis. Many are starving to death as a result of the ongoing war and a shortage of aid. Israeli officials have stated multiple times that the challenges in providing aid are not caused by Israel obstructing the access of trucks to Gaza.

Cindy McCain, the executive director of the World Food Program, expressed her alarm at how quickly this crisis of hunger and malnutrition, which is man-made, has spread throughout Gaza.

A report released on Monday by several governments and aid organizations revealed that a famine in northern Gaza is likely to happen soon.

According to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the report indicated that Gaza currently has the highest number of people at risk of severe hunger ever recorded.

"This is a disaster created by humans, but the report shows that it can be stopped," Guterres informed reporters.

However, life is not much improved for Gazans who managed to escape to the south. Around 1.4 million individuals are currently living in a crowded tent city near the Egyptian border in Rafah. This area is now the only somewhat safe place in the besieged enclave, but concerns are growing about a potential upcoming attack.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Friday that plans for a ground incursion into Rafah had been approved, despite facing opposition from many countries around the world.

United Nations aid chief Martin Griffiths had cautioned the previous month that such a military operation could result in a devastating loss of life. In response to this, Israel is planning to relocate displaced Palestinians from Rafah to designated “humanitarian enclaves” within Gaza before launching any assault, as revealed by IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari during a press briefing on Wednesday.

CNN’s Amir Tal, Mostafa Salem and Joshua Berlinger contributed to this report

Editor's P/S:

The Israeli military's operation targeting Al-Shifa hospital, Gaza's largest medical facility, is a deeply concerning and alarming violation of international law. The hospital is a vital lifeline for the people of Gaza, providing essential medical care to thousands of patients, including women, children, and the elderly. The Israeli military's actions have put the lives of these innocent civilians at risk and have further fueled the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The Israeli government's claims that Hamas terrorists were using the hospital to carry out attacks are unsubstantiated and should be thoroughly investigated. The targeting of hospitals during war is a grave breach of international humanitarian law, and those responsible must be held accountable. The international community must take immediate action to protect the people of Gaza and ensure that they have access to essential medical care. take immediate action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law.