Israeli forces conducted a major raid on Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, resulting in the detention of hundreds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters, including top security officials and military commanders. The troops entered the hospital in the early hours of Monday morning, claiming to have killed hundreds of fighters and arrested over 500 suspects.
Among those detained were three senior Islamic Jihad military commanders and two Hamas officials. Israel’s main military spokesperson stated that special forces utilized “deception tactics” to surprise the fighters and deal a significant blow to both Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
However, the military later acknowledged that some of the photographs shown during a briefing were included in error and did not accurately depict the detainees. Accusations arose regarding the spread of false narratives to justify the raid, as photos of medical staff and individuals from outside the country were mistakenly included.
Al Shifa Hospital, one of the few remaining partially operational healthcare facilities in northern Gaza, also served as a shelter for displaced civilians. Israel has faced criticism for previous raids on the hospital, alleging it was being used for military purposes by Hamas – allegations that the group and hospital staff deny.
Hamas has condemned Israel’s actions as war crimes, asserting that those killed by Israeli forces were actually patients and displaced individuals. Reuters has been unable to independently verify the conflicting accounts from either side, as access to the hospital remains restricted.
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