Israel's navy mentioned it launched an operation in opposition to Hamas militants as we speak close to one of many final remaining hospitals in northern Gaza, with the Palestinian motion accusing the troopers of attacking the construction.
The operation close to Kamal Antoine Hospital in Beit Lahia comes a day after the hospital's director, Dr. Hussam Abu Shafiya, introduced the dying of 5 of his workers in an Israeli strike.
The Israeli military contacted by AFP didn’t reply to the strike within the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by 14 months of warfare between Israel and the Islamist Hamas motion.
In an announcement issued as we speak, the military mentioned the hospital had develop into a “stronghold of terrorist organizations and continues for use as a hideout by terrorists”.
Performing on intelligence info, Israeli forces launched an operation close to the hospital, in accordance with the navy.
“Troops are conducting focused operations” and making an attempt to keep away from hitting civilians, sufferers and medical workers, he added.
Since October 6, Israel has intensified its floor and air offensive within the northern Gaza Strip to stop, in accordance with the navy, the regrouping of Hamas militants.
Earlier than launching the operation close to the hospital, the navy mentioned its troopers had “facilitated the protected evacuation of civilians, sufferers and medical personnel” from the construction.
However Hamas mentioned in an announcement that “the occupation military attacked the Kamal Antoine hospital, forcing medical workers, sufferers, wounded and displaced individuals to go away.”
He accused Israeli forces of “holding the individuals who moved away”.
“Hamas holds the occupation power totally answerable for the lives of the sick, wounded and medical personnel whom it captured and transferred to an unknown location,” Hamas added. All communication has been misplaced, in accordance with Hamas.
Hospital officers couldn’t instantly be reached for remark.
The Palestinian Ministry of Well being mentioned contact with workers contained in the hospital had been misplaced.
“The occupation power is now contained in the hospital and burning it,” the ministry's director, Munir al-Bours, mentioned in an announcement.
Youssef Abu al-Ris, the Hamas-appointed deputy well being minister, mentioned Israeli forces set fireplace to the working room and laboratory and a warehouse.
Just like the Indonesian Hospital and Al-Awda Hospital, Kamal Atwan has been repeatedly attacked by Israeli forces which were attacking the northern fringe of the Gaza Strip for weeks, Palestinian well being staff say.
Bours mentioned the military ordered 350 individuals to go away Camal Antoine and transfer to a close-by college the place displaced households have taken shelter. They embrace 75 sufferers, their companions and 185 well being staff.
Abu el Ris mentioned troopers had been transporting sufferers and medical workers to the Indonesian Hospital, which was out of service because of extreme harm and was evacuated by Israeli forces a day earlier.
Footage circulating in Palestinian and Arab media, which Reuters couldn’t but verify, confirmed smoke billowing over Kamal Antoine's compound.
A lot of the realm across the northern cities of Jabalia, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia has been emptied of individuals and is being bombed commonly, elevating considerations that Israel intends to maintain the realm as a closed buffer zone when the preventing in Gaza ends.
Israel denies it.
Supply: APE-MPE-AFP-Reuters
