Several Israeli shells hit Al Shifa Hospital on Friday during intense fighting in Gaza.
Seven people were killed in at least four strikes on different parts of the sprawling complex.
Latest with @NeilCollier. π§΅
nytimes.com
Seven people were killed in at least four strikes on different parts of the sprawling complex.
Latest with @NeilCollier. π§΅
nytimes.com
@NeilCollier The IDF said that errant Palestinian projectiles targeting Israeli forces in the area hit Al Shifa. It provided a map showing launches in a western direction. idfanc.activetrail.biz
@NeilCollier However, videos we analyzed showed that shells hit the hospital from the north and south. They fell in the courtyard, the maternity building and outpatient clinic entrance, where people were sheltering.
Thousands of displaced Gazans were camped in the hospital, a protected space under the laws of armed conflict. The crackle of nearby gunfire and thuds of explosions punctuated an uneasy quiet on Friday evening, captured in this @Reuters live stream. youtube.com
The hospital's director told us thousands were sheltering there, and videos showed it jammed with displaced Gazans, patients, families, women with newborns. There was an uneasy quiet Friday night, punctuated by the crackle of gunfire and thuds of nearby explosions. youtube.com
At 1.07am, a shell flew into the courtyard, mangled a bystander's leg, crashed into a car injuring the occupants. It's lucky more weren't injured. It was an illumination shell, experts @marcgarlasco and Richard Stevens of @cat_uxo said. Fired by Israel. πΈ by Ahmed Hijazi.
There was some speculation it was a hellfire but that was swiftly debunked by @EliotHiggins and @marcgarlasco
Then after 2am, at least two shells crashed into the fifth floor of the maternity building. The weapons experts identified these as the tails of 120mm HEAT shells. Garlasco said they're fired by Israeli tanks. (See reference image)
Before 8am, the maternity building was hit again, a shell ripping through the building and killing three people, the hospital director said.
Blankets, cushions, clothes, shoes were strewn around the area. A reporter with Al Jazeera sent us video they took of this same area on Oct. 30. It was packed with people sheltering.
Then shortly before 10am, another strike hit the outpatients area of the hospital. We are as yet unable to identify the munition; the frag spray may offer some clues. The scenes here were horrific - children killed and maimed. The video is in the story.
Israel says Al Shifa sits over an underground Hamas command center and has been warning those inside to evacuate, even as the IDF are closing in on it. Hospital officials & western doctors flatly deny the assertion. The WHO asks where should patients go. nytimes.com
There are many claims of gunfire hitting the building, dead people on the streets. Doctors Without Borders has described the situation as catastrophic (more on its timeline).
IDF now says itβs carrying out an operation inside Al-Shifa Hospital
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