War in the Gaza Strip
Israeli army withdraws tanks from Al-Shifa hospital complex
Israeli tank in the Gaza Strip
© xx x cewitness06979 / Imago Images
The Israeli army has apparently withdrawn tanks from the Al-Shifa hospital complex in the Gaza Strip. A journalist observed tanks and vehicles leaving the area on Monday morning.
The Israeli army did not initially confirm the withdrawal of the tanks. Also the Ministry of Health, which is controlled by the Islamist Hamas Gaza Strip said Israel had withdrawn tanks and vehicles. Dozens of bodies were found in and at Al-Shifa Hospital. There is very large property damage. A doctor told AFP more than 20 bodies had been recovered. Some of them were run over by departing vehicles.
On March 18, the Israeli army launched a major operation in Al-Shifa Hospital in the north of the Gaza Strip, the largest clinic in the coastal region. According to Israeli information, the operation was directed against high-ranking Hamas members in the complex in the city of Gaza, and “around 200 terrorists were eliminated” in the area.
War in the Middle East
A hospital on the verge of collapse: That’s how bad things are at the embattled Schifa Clinic
International criticism of the approach
Published recordings showed weapons and money seized in the hospital complex that were used by Hamas and the militant Palestinian group Islamic Jihad. Israel accuses Hamas of setting up a command center on the site of the clinic. The US government agreed with this assessment in November.
Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields and civilian facilities such as hospitals and schools for its infrastructure, including as command centers and weapons depots. Hamas denies this.
The Israeli armed forces had already carried out an operation in the Al-Shifa clinic in November, causing international criticism