Enlarge image

Israeli soldiers stand in front of the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City in November 2023: Another operation is now underway at the clinic

Photo: Victor R. Caivano/dpa

The Israeli military says it stormed the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City in search of high-ranking Hamas leaders.

The army announced on Monday that the soldiers would carry out a “precise” mission.

They were shot at, they returned fire and “found a hit.”

Hamas said the Israeli military shelled the hospital building without caring for patients, medical staff or refugees seeking protection there.

According to the health authority in the Gaza Strip, a fire has broken out.

Shifa Hospital is one of the few remaining functioning medical facilities in the Gaza Strip.

Israel has long accused Hamas of using hospitals as shelters.

The Islamist group denies this.

Hamas terrorists in hospital?

Now the Israeli side said that intelligence information had shown that the hospital was being used by high-ranking members of Hamas to carry out terrorist activities.

It is known that the Islamists have regrouped there to command attacks against Israel, said army spokesman Daniel Hagari.

The Gaza health authority said there was a fire at the entrance to the complex.

Refugee women and children suffocated because of the smoke.

People are trapped in operating rooms and the emergency room.

Communication with the hospital was lost.

"There are casualties, including dead and injured, and it is impossible to save anyone because the fire is so fierce," the authorities said in a statement.

Anyone who comes near the windows will be targeted.

The Israeli military said troops had been instructed to act cautiously.

Accordingly, injuries to patients, civilians and medical staff should be avoided.

Initially it was also said that patients were not obliged to vacate the complex.

The Israeli military has now called on the population of the Gaza Strip to evacuate the clinic.

"To ensure your safety, you must leave the area immediately," army spokesman Avichay Adraee said on the online service X on Monday. "All people on site" should first move west and then south to a "humanitarian area."

asc/Reuters/dpa