The Israeli Army besieged early Monday morning with tanks and snipers and attacked the Shifa hospital in Gaza City, the most important in the enclave, for the fourth time since the war began in the Strip, causing deaths among the more than 30,000 displaced people who were taking refuge. in that center, denounced the Gaza Ministry of Health, controlled by Hamas. “Following intelligence information indicating the presence of terrorists in the Shifa hospital area and their use to carry out terrorist activities, the forces are carrying out a precise operation to thwart terrorist activity and apprehend terrorists on the hospital grounds,” the Israeli Army said.

The Gaza Ministry of Health, which described the operation as “massacre against sick, wounded, displaced and medical personnel“He noted that the Israeli forces fired bullets directly towards the medical complex building where specialized surgeries are performed and targeted it with missiles, in addition to introducing tanks and military vehicles into the courtyards of the complex. “It is a true tragedy and an attack on health institutions that violates all international laws and standards,” said a Ministry spokesperson about the fourth Israeli operation inside the hospital, which is still ongoing.

The Ministry pointed out that from 2:00 a.m. local time (00:00 GMT) There have been “a good number of deaths and injuries” and anyone who tries to move around the medical center “is a target for sniper and drone bullets.” They also pointed out that due to the intensity of the fire, a fire broke out at the door of the hospital, which caused cases of asphyxiation among displaced women and children, in addition to the center’s communications being cut off.

For its part, the Army justified that its forces received instructions on the importance of operating with caution and the need to avoid harm to patients, civilians and medical personnel, in addition to having brought Arabic speakers to facilitate dialogue with them. who “do not have the obligation to evacuate.” “Troops will continue humanitarian efforts in the area, during and after the conclusion of the operation, providing food, water and medical supplies to patients and civilians on the hospital grounds,” a military spokesman said.

Israel defended its operation in Shifa as “in accordance with international law” and “against the Hamas terrorist organization that operates from hospitals and civilian infrastructure in a cynical and systematic manner, without distinguishing between the civilian population.” “During the activity, the terrorists opened fire on the troops from inside the hospital. They responded with live fire and impacts were identified“said the Israeli Army.

As evidence supporting the operation, the Army released a conversation between the COGAT liaison – the military organization that manages civil and administrative affairs in the occupied territories – with the director of Shifa, in which allegedly informs him about Hamas’ “terrorist activities” at the hospital and the need to put an end to them. It is the fourth time that Israel attacks this hospital, the most important in the Strip. The first time was in November, when he kept it surrounded for more than ten days; ordered the evacuation of thousands of displaced wounded and sick; He detained numerous medical personnel, including its director, and said he had seized numerous Hamas weapons and material.