Panicked people leave Shifa Hospital, while dozens are killed at a school elsewhere in northern Gaza

26

In a harrowing turn of events, patients and staff, along with displaced individuals, hastily evacuated Gaza’s largest medical facility, Shifa Hospital, on Saturday. Amidst the chaos, Israeli forces scrutinized male evacuees, employing facial recognition techniques and detaining some. According to reports, Israeli troops were combing through the hospital in search of a purported Hamas command center allegedly situated beneath the hospital, a claim vehemently refuted by both Hamas and hospital personnel. The evacuation resulted in a drastically reduced presence at the hospital, with only a handful of staff remaining to tend to those too ill to be moved.

Mahmoud Abu Auf, a former patient, recounted his experience in a telephonic conversation with The Big Big News. He described an environment of intense fear, where tanks and snipers were omnipresent, and he witnessed the detainment of three men by Israeli forces.

In northern Gaza, the situation was equally dire. An Israeli airstrike reportedly struck a crowded U.N. shelter within the Jabaliya refugee camp, resulting in significant casualties and devastation. Survivors Ahmed Radwan and Yassin Sharif provided chilling accounts of the aftermath, with images from a local hospital showing numerous casualties.

The Israeli military, which had previously urged residents of Jabaliya to evacuate through a social media post in Arabic, stated its operations in the area were focused on targeting terrorists. However, it refrained from commenting on specific strikes, maintaining its objective to minimize civilian casualties while targeting Hamas.

Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, took to social media to express his shock at the unfolding tragedy and called for a humanitarian ceasefire. Martin Griffiths, the U.N. humanitarian chief, echoed these sentiments.

Meanwhile, an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza hit a residential area in Khan Younis, resulting in the deaths of at least 26 Palestinians. The Israeli military stated that it had not mandated an evacuation of Shifa Hospital but had offered assistance for those wishing to leave safely. However, Medhat Abbas, a Health Ministry spokesperson in Gaza, contradicted this, stating that the military ordered the hospital’s clearance.

Amid the evacuations, Dr. Ahmed Mokhallalati, a physician at Shifa, reported on social media that approximately 120 patients, some in critical condition, remained in the hospital.

The ongoing conflict, now in its seventh week, was initiated by a Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7, leading to extensive civilian casualties and abductions. The Israeli offensive has resulted in significant Palestinian casualties, with a substantial proportion being women and children, though Israel asserts many militants have been neutralized.

The conflict has had a devastating impact on Gaza’s infrastructure, with shortages of food, water, and medical supplies becoming increasingly dire. The situation is exacerbated by electricity outages and the destruction of essential facilities.

The U.N. has highlighted the critical shortage of food and water in Gaza, noting that fuel provisions are insufficient for the population’s needs. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis intensifies, with the vast majority of Gaza’s population in urgent need of food and clean water.

In Jerusalem, a demonstration involving thousands, including families of hostages, is pressuring the government for more action to rescue those held by Hamas. The Hamas military wing’s spokesperson acknowledged losing contact with some units responsible for guarding the hostages.

As the conflict escalates, Israel indicates plans to intensify its offensive, particularly in southern Gaza, which now shelters a significant portion of the population. Reports of continued strikes and mounting casualties paint a bleak picture of the ongoing strife.

This report is compiled from various sources, including Beirut-based reporter Mroue and New York-based Anna, with contributions from Big Big News writer Julia Frankel in Jerusalem. For comprehensive coverage, visit Big Big News.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Gaza Evacuation

More about Gaza Evacuation

• Shifa Hospital Evacuation
• Jabaliya Refugee Camp Airstrike
• UNRWA’s Response to Gaza Crisis
• Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
• Impact of Conflict on Gaza’s Infrastructure