PALESTINE
Mon 18 Mar 2024 7:23 pm - Jerusalem Time
War on Gaza: Israel continues its attack on the Al-Shifa complex
The Israeli forces bombed schools and residential neighborhoods in the vicinity of the Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City, after storming the complex on Monday morning, while the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said that it was engaged in fierce clashes with the forces penetrating near the complex.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Red Crescent said that communications were completely cut off with the Shifa complex after the occupation forces stormed it.
The Red Crescent added that Israel ignores all international calls for the necessity of protecting health institutions and medical teams, noting that targeting the complex comes after it partially restored its services during the last period.
At the same time, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on the X platform, “We are deeply concerned about the situation at Al-Shifa Hospital.”
"Any hostilities or militarization of the facility jeopardizes health services, the arrival of ambulances and the delivery of life-saving supplies," Ghebreyesus warned.
Dead, wounded and displaced
The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced the death and injury of a number of Palestinians as a result of the Israeli bombing of the Al-Shifa Complex.
A number of dead and wounded fell as a result of the Israeli aircraft bombing a house for the Abu Awaila family on Lababidi Street in the vicinity of Al-Shifa Complex.
The Israeli forces also bombed homes on Al-Jalaa Street in Gaza. The bombing coincided with the military operation announced by the Israeli army in the Shifa complex.
The Israeli forces arrested displaced men and youth after storming a number of schools in the vicinity of the Shifa Complex, and asked the women to go to Deir al-Balah via Al-Rashid Street. The Israeli forces also besieged two other schools in the vicinity of the complex.
Scenes obtained by Al Jazeera showed the presence of Israeli vehicles and bulldozers inside the Shifa Medical Complex, and the scenes showed an Israeli vehicle closing the gate of the complex in conjunction with bulldozing operations inside the square.
A number of Palestinians were killed and wounded as a result of the Israeli aircraft bombing Al-Sabreen Mosque and the Bakr family home near Al-Shifa Complex.
The Israeli quadcopter drones flew over the areas surrounding the Al-Shifa Complex, firing at every moving object.
Fierce clashes
For its part, the Al-Qassam Brigades announced that it was engaged in fierce clashes with the Israeli forces penetrating near the Shifa complex, and said that it had targeted a number of Israeli vehicles, causing deaths and injuries.
The Israeli army acknowledged the killing of a sergeant in its ranks during the military operation in the Shifa Complex area, and announced that 3 other soldiers were injured during the battles in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours.
On the other hand, the Israeli army announced that it killed Palestinian officer Fayeq al-Mabhouh during the Al-Shifa Complex operation, and described him as “the head of operations for Hamas’ internal security.”
Brigadier General Al-Mabhouh is also responsible for police operations in the Gaza Strip, and was supervising the entry of aid into the northern Gaza Strip.
The Israeli army said this evening that it had killed 20 of what it described as saboteurs in clashes at the Shifa complex, and that it was continuing its operation in the complex.
He added that he is currently interrogating dozens of suspected detainees.
Earlier, Israeli Army Radio said that the army carried out an operation “planned for days” in the Shifa complex, was able to take control of the complex, and arrested 80 people.
Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said that "senior Hamas officials" were working from inside the compound to attack Israel, as he put it.
The Israeli army carried out a large-scale attack on the Shifa complex last November, after making allegations of the presence of a Hamas command center under the complex, which turned out to be incorrect.
Israel has been waging a devastating war on the Gaza Strip for more than 5 months, leaving tens of thousands of martyrs and wounded, most of them children and women, amid warnings from international organizations of famine - especially in the northern Gaza Strip - as a result of the Israeli restriction the entry of aid.
Losses to Israeli army
On the other hand, the Israeli army today issued an update on the number of soldiers and officers wounded since Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, announcing that 3,082 soldiers had been wounded, including 1,482 since the start of the Israeli ground attack on Gaza.
Currently, 296 Israeli soldiers are still being treated for their injuries in the Gaza battles, 26 of whom have serious injuries, and 204 have moderate injuries.
In total, 485 soldiers have been seriously injured since October 7, according to the Israeli army.
39 Israeli soldiers were killed in “operational incidents,” 20 of them by friendly fire.
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War on Gaza: Israel continues its attack on the Al-Shifa complex