The Israeli military has issued a directive for all individuals residing near the Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City’s Al-Rimal neighborhood to evacuate southwards. This decision comes after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) surrounded the medical complex early Monday, where approximately 30,000 people were seeking shelter, as reported by the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza.
Reports indicate that a crowded building within the hospital premises is currently on fire, leading to multiple casualties, according to the ministry. Disturbingly, the ministry has stated that individuals attempting to leave the hospital are at risk of being targeted by sniper bullets and quadcopters.
Residents in the vicinity have been instructed to relocate to the Al-Mawasi 'humanitarian zone,' as communicated by an IDF spokesperson. The spokesperson emphasized the importance of immediate evacuation for the safety of those present and displaced in the Al-Rimal neighborhood and Al-Shifa Hospital, urging them to move westward and then cross Al-Rashid (Al-Bahr) Street to reach the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi.
The IDF has justified its actions by citing intelligence suggesting that the hospital was being utilized by 'senior Hamas terrorists to conduct and promote terrorist activity.' However, this claim has not been independently verified by any reliable sources.
This recent development is not the first time the Israeli military has targeted Al-Shifa, Gaza's largest medical complex. Since October 7, the IDF has frequently raided Gaza’s hospitals, accusing Hamas of exploiting medical facilities as a cover for its operations, an allegation vehemently denied by the group.
