Israeli army struck, burned buildings in Al-Shifa Hospital, says Gaza Health Ministry

By Anadolu staff

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) - The Health Ministry in Gaza on Friday said the Israeli army struck several buildings in Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, and burned others in its ongoing attack against the hospital.

In a statement, the Gaza-based ministry said the Israeli army burned the Vascular Department in Al-Shifa Hospital and arrested dozens of medical staff from inside the hospital.

The statement also noted that the Israeli army "holds 240 patients and their companions, and 10 of the medical staff" in one of the hospital's buildings, but did not give further details on the health conditions of the patients.

Since early Monday, the Israeli army has been carrying out an offensive against Al-Shifa Hospital and its surrounding areas, putting the lives of dozens of thousands of Palestinians in the hospital and around it in danger.

On Wednesday, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi admitted that the attack on the hospital aimed to “pressure” Hamas during the ongoing negotiations in Qatar to reach a hostage exchange deal.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 cross-border attack led by Palestinian group Hamas in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed.

Nearly 32,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and around 74,200 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide, and guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar.