Israeli Troops Withdraw from Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital
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Facts
- Following a two-week raid, Israeli forces withdrew from the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Monday.1
- In a statement following the withdrawal, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they exited the compound after a 'precise' operation that 'killed terrorists' and found 'numerous weapons and intelligence documents,' while claiming to prevent 'harm to civilians, patients and medical teams.'1
- However, images and videos of the hospital — already out of service after previous Israeli attacks — showed it charred and heavily damaged. Health officials in Gaza also rejected Israel's assertions that the hospital was used by Hamas fighters for military purposes.2
- A number of previous investigations — including by the Guardian, the Washington Post and Al Jazeera — have concluded that the evidence falls short of showing that Hamas has used the hospital as a headquarters or to stage attacks.3
- Following the Israeli withdrawal, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said that the bodies of dozens of civilians, some of them decomposed, have been recovered from in and around the Al-Shifa hospital. It added that the complex was set on fire after the Israeli exit, leaving it 'completely out of service.'4
Sources: 1BBC News, 2Associated Press, 3Washington Post and 4WION.
Narratives
- Pro-Israel narrative, as provided by Jerusalem Post. Israel has withdrawn from the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza after a successful operation in which Israeli troops killed and captured many Palestinian terrorists. Numerous weapons and intelligence documents were also seized from the site.
- Pro-Palestine narrative, as provided by WION. Despite Israel's allegations, there's no evidence the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza was being used by Hamas fighters. These are lies spread by Israel in an attempt to justify war crimes.