Israel Surrounds Two Hospitals in Gaza and Orders Evacuation

Israeli military land operations in Gaza. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli forces surrounded two Gaza hospitals on Sunday, trapping medical teams under heavy fire, while around 480 militants were arrested in ongoing clashes at Gaza's main hospital, Al Shifa Hospital.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said one of its staff was killed when Israeli tanks suddenly withdrew into the area around Al-Amal and Nasser hospitals in the southern city of Khan Younis, amid heavy bombardment and gunfire.

Israeli troops began operating around Al-Amal, the military said, following "accurate intelligence information indicating militants were using civilian infrastructure for terror activities at Al-Amal Hospital," reported Reuters, March 25.

Israeli armored forces closed Al-Amal Hospital and carried out a massive bulldozing operation in its surroundings, the Red Crescent said in a statement.

"All of our teams are in extreme danger at this time and cannot move at all," the agency said.

The Red Crescent further said that Israeli forces demanded a complete evacuation of staff, patients, and refugees from the Al Amal site and fired smoke bombs at the hospital to force the occupants out.

A Palestinian refugee died inside a hospital complex after being hit in the head by Israeli gunfire, the Red Crescent said in its latest report.

Separately, the Ministry of Health in Gaza said dozens of patients and medical staff had been detained by Israeli forces in Al Shifa Gaza which has been under Israeli control for a week.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-run state media office said Israeli forces had killed five Palestinian doctors during their seven-day attack on Al Shifa.

The Israeli military itself did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. It was previously said that they had killed more than 170 gunmen in the attack, which the Palestinian Health Ministry said also caused the deaths of five patients.

Israel accuses hospitals in Gaza, where war has raged for more than five months, of being used by Hamas militants as bases. They have released videos and images that support these claims. Hamas and medical staff denied the accusations.

"Currently, Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists are holed up in the Shifa hospital ward," said Israeli military spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

Hagari said Hamas gunmen opened fire on soldiers from inside the hospital's emergency room and maternity ward, and also fired mortars at soldiers in the hospital, causing damage.

The Hamas-run state media office said it "categorically denies this."

"How can they claim this while their soldiers roam and frolic inside the compound with ease, carrying out interrogations of refugees, patients, and the wounded," said media agency director Ismail Al-Thawabta.

It is known that Al Shifa Hospital is one of the few health facilities that even partially operates in northern Gaza, and like other facilities, has also accommodated nearly 2 million civilians, more than 80 percent of Gaza's population, who were displaced by the war.