Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) stormed Gaza's al-Shifa hospital, again, on March 18, placing it and the surrounding area of the complex under a complete siege. Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex in Gaza, has been serving as a shelter for an estimated 30,000 displaced individuals, wounded patients, and staff.
Eyewitness accounts emerging from the besieged hospital in the last week have described horrific encounters. Al Jazeera journalist Ismail al-Ghoul was severely beaten and arbitrarily detained by the IOF. After 12 hours of unjust interrogation, al-Ghoul was released. Although, his release did not come without humiliation and cruelty. Al-Ghoul told Al Jazeera that the IOF destroyed media equipment, then stripped detainees of their clothing, demanding they lay flat on their stomachs to be blindfolded and handcuffed.
Aljazeera also reported that around 800 Palestinians were kidnapped by the Occupation forces from Al-Shifa Hospital. Hind Khoudary, a Palestinian journalist in Gaza, shared a photo on her X account of a truckload of Palestinians who were detained by the Israeli forces. Israel falsely claimed that over half of those detained belonged to various Palestinian resistance factions. Hamas has publicly denounced the Zionist rampage at al-Shifa hospital, stating that there are no fighters inside the hospital.
On March 27, Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor reported that Israeli forces executed 13 children between the ages of 4 and 16 at or in the vicinity of al-Shifa Hospital complex. The human rights organization shared a testimony from a father of two, Islam Ali Salouha, who said that on March 24, Israeli forces killed his nine-year-old and six-year-old sons. The family was following evacuation orders near the complex when they were targetted; Salouha could not retrieve his sons' bodies because Israeli soldiers opened fire at him, forcing him to keep walking.
On March 23, Quds News Network reported that 170 Palestinians at al-Shifa Hospital have been martyred, with over 150 others injured, since the siege on the hospital. Amongst those who have been executed by Israel are Fayeq al-Mabhouh and Mohammed Zaher el-Nono.
Fayeq al-Mabhouh was the director of the police force in Gaza, he was killed by Israeli forces on March 18. Al-Madbouh was coordinating the entry of humanitarian aid in Northern Gaza, according to the Gaza government media office.
Mohammed Zaher el-Nono was a doctor at al-Shifa Hospital. According to the Chairman of the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, Ramy Abdu, Dr. el-Nono was executed in front of his patients. He had refused to leave the hospital and insisted on staying with his patients.
This is the fourth time that al-Shifa Hospital has been raided by Israeli forces since Oct. 7. Israel's targeting of medical staff has rendered their job near-impossible, ensuring that wounded Palestinians have the smallest chance of survival.
While Israel announced evacuation orders, it has actively prevented Palestinians from leaving. The Gaza Health Ministry said that snipers were at the scene targeting anyone “who tries to move.” The Gaza Government Media Office said that it has received reports from inside the complex that the IOF has threatened the medical cadre and the displaced, “that it will bomb those buildings and destroy them over their heads, or they must come out for torture, interrogation, and execution.” The entire area has been subject to indiscriminate bombings, such as the main surgical building and residential homes adjacent to the hospital. There is no safe place in Gaza.
Israeli forces have also prevented access to any and all aid to the complex, including food and water. Aljazeera's Gaza correspondent, Ismail Alghoul, reported that according to testimonies from inside the hospital, some have resorted to drinking IV fluid.
The Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor reported testimonies recalling mass executions: “Israeli soldiers repeatedly took prisoners into the Shifa hospital's morgue area, [...] gunshots were then heard, and [...] soldiers left without the prisoners.”
Eyewitness accounts and footage revealed incidents of sexual violence and executions carried out at the hospital. CNN reported that Palestinian journalists and health workers were stripped and interrogated at the hospital. A video obtained by MEMO showed Palestinian men being released from Israeli custody at Al Shifa hospital on March 23, “The footage shows men stripped naked, with some using wheelchairs to aid the disabled or injured.” Farouq Hamad, a Palestinian teenager, described execution-style killings as soldiers took turns shooting at the group he was with. He told Aljazeera that Israeli soldiers killed his father and brother and shot at him as he tried to run.
