Israeli forces last week launched another military operation on Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, bringing the sprawling medical facility in the north of the enclave back into the spotlight.
The raid occurs despite the Israel Defense Forces in January saying it had completed dismantling Hamas’ command structure in northern Gaza.
While the IDF said civilians, patients, and medical teams were evacuated during the operation, Palestinians inside and around Al-Shifa have reported civilian casualties and arrests, as well as large-scale destruction at the complex.
Heavy fighting around the hospital has also been reported by Israel, Hamas and civilians, with the UN saying hospitals must not be battlegrounds.
Here’s what we know about the raid:
Why are Israeli forces raiding Al-Shifa? Israeli forces said they were conducting “precise operational activities against terrorists” at Al-Shifa.
The IDF said Wednesday that “approximately 200 terrorists have been eliminated in the area of the hospital since the beginning of the activity.”
What are Palestinians saying? About 3,000 people were sheltering in Al-Shifa at the time of the raid, Gaza’s Health Ministry said, adding that those attempting to leave were being targeted by snipers and fire from helicopters.
Hundreds of those stranded in the hospital have little food or water — and were warned by the Israeli military that they would be shot if they left the hospital without receiving instructions to evacuate.
Eyewitnesses said medical personnel and other civilians were detained by Israeli troops.
One eyewitness estimated about 400 to 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad members and their families arrived at the hospital in mid-March. Some of them appeared to be members of Hamas’ political branch, while others were armed militants.
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