Israeli Military Raids Al-Shifa Hospital Complex in Gaza, Raising Concerns from Human Rights Groups

Israel’s military raided the Al-Shifa Hospital complex in Gaza on Wednesday, searching the facility floor by floor and room by room for Hamas fighters and evidence of an underground command center. The hospital, Gaza’s largest, was evacuated on Saturday, leaving only a skeleton crew to care for those too sick to move and Israeli forces in control of the facility.

Israel has released several pieces of information in its recent outreach to global allies, including claiming that an Arabic calendar was a shift schedule for Hamas kidnappers and using curtains as evidence that Hamas was using the hospital as a base. However, U.S. officials have also stated that they have evidence of a Hamas command center, which Hamas and hospital staff deny.

Israel has been making the case that its pummeling of Gaza has been necessary and conducted in a way meant to minimize civilian deaths. The military has not yet released any information on what, if anything, was found during the raid of the Al-Shifa Hospital complex.

The raid of the hospital has raised concerns from human rights groups, who have called on Israel to respect international law and protect civilians and medical facilities. The United Nations has also called for an independent investigation into the incident. It is unclear when the Israeli military will leave the hospital complex and what the outcome of the raid will be.