Israeli Forces Enter Gaza Main Hospital

Israeli says its military is carrying out an operation against Hamas in Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza city.

Both Israel and the United State (US) say Hamas has a command base underneath Al-Shifa – which Hamas denies.

Earlier, the Israeli military said the medical complex may be the “beating heart” of Hamas.

An eyewitness inside the hospital says they saw tanks and commando soldiers enter its main emergency department.

The white house says patients must be protected, adding: it did not want to see a firefight in a hospital”.

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Hundreds of Patients Stuck at Gaza Hospitals as Israeli Strike Continues

Thousands of patients and civilians are believed to be sheltering at Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital, which has come under siege from Israeli forces.

The estimates vary however. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday there were about 700 patients, 400 hospital staff and 3,000 civilians at Al-Shifa.

The Hamas-run health ministry has said there are at least 2,300 people still inside the facility – up to 650 patients, 200-500 staff and around 1,500 civilians.

Israeli forces have raided al-Shifa Hospital, where thousands of Palestinians are sheltering, following days of heavy attacks in the area surrounding the complex in Gaza City.

Israel’s military said early on Wednesday morning that it was carrying out an “operation against Hamas in a specified area” at al-Shifa.

Calling the assault a “targeted operation” on Gaza’s largest medical facility, it said the raid was based on Israeli and United States intelligence.