The fighting between Israel and Hamas is reported to be in sensitive areas, housing civilians, including hospitals. "The destruction of hospitals in Gaza is becoming unbearable and must stop. The lives of thousands of civilians, patients and medical personnel are at risk," said William Schomburg, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sub-delegation in Gaza, calling for urgent respect and protection of medical facilities, patients and medical staff in Gaza, as several attacks were denounced on Friday.
At Al-Shifa Hospital
While Israeli ground troops are backed by shelling, the army said it was targeting a "military neighborhood" adjacent to Al-Shifa hospital, described as the "heart" of Hamas' operational and intelligence activities. Salama Maarouf, the head of Hamas' press office, reported "thirteen martyrs and dozens wounded in an Israeli strike on the Al-Shifa compound today."
The director of the hospital, Mohammed Abu Salmiya, who spoke of Israeli tank fire on the maternity ward, reported about 50 dead, in a new toll. An AFP journalist saw at least seven bodies near the hospital. Footage shows bodies wrapped in blankets outside the hospital.
On Thursday evening, an Israeli army spokesman reported major operations in an area "very, very close" to the hospital.
At Al-Quds Hospital
The Palestinian Red Crescent said Israeli sniper fire on Al-Quds hospital on Friday killed at least one person and wounded 20. "Violent clashes are currently taking place and (Israeli) occupation snipers are firing at Al-Quds Hospital, causing casualties among the displaced," the Palestinian Red Crescent Medical Organization said in a statement.
When contacted, the Israeli army said it "could not discuss potential locations related to (its) operations" so as not to "compromise the troops". It later on Friday said it would "kill" Hamas fighters "who are firing from hospitals."
Other Hospitals
The Israeli army has been saying for several days that its troops are now fighting Hamas in the heart of Gaza City, in the north of the Palestinian territory, where a few hundred thousand civilians still reside. Al-Rantisi Hospital, which some witnesses saw surrounded by tanks, as well as al-Shifa Hospital and the Indonesian Hospital came under fire overnight, Hamas authorities said.
"Numerous Israeli tanks" "surround four hospitals in the area," the Hamas government press office reported, citing the al-Rantisi Pediatric and Oncology Hospital, the Psychiatric Hospital, the Nasr Pediatric Hospital and the Eye Hospital. Footage released by al-Rantisi Hospital showed Israeli tanks visible from inside the facility.
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Since the start of the war on 7 October, triggered by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israeli soil, the UN and the World Health Organization (WHO) have denounced Israeli air and artillery strikes on hospitals and ambulances. Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals to carry out attacks and hide tunnels, which the movement denies, saying it is ready to host "an international team" for investigation.