Israel Gaza War: Panic as Gaza’s al-Shifa evacuates, Israel army denies ordering it to do so

Over 7,000 people, including seriously ill patients, were staying in a hospital in Gaza that Israeli forces surrounded for days. The soldiers told doctors, patients, and displaced individuals at al-Shifa Hospital to leave, even using force in some cases, according to medical sources.

The Israeli army spokesperson, however, denied giving any evacuation order, stating that they responded to the hospital director's request to allow people to leave via a secure route.

The director-general of Gaza's hospitals rejected the Israeli army's denial, insisting that they were forced to leave at gunpoint. The hospital, which housed more than 7,000 people, including critical patients and newborns, became largely empty after the evacuation order.

At around 9 am local time, the hospital received an order to evacuate within an hour. The lack of ambulances and transportation made it impossible to move everyone, causing panic in the hospital.

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Some people left on foot, but those unable to move, amputees, and critically ill patients had to stay with a few medical staff. The situation was dire, especially for at least 35 premature babies who had been without incubators for eight days due to a lack of oxygen and electricity.

After the Israeli army's deadline passed, forced evacuations began, with scenes described as appalling. People were instructed to leave through a particular route, and there were reports of dead bodies along the way. Evacuees were humiliated by soldiers, and many had to walk long distances on foot.

The hospital, already facing shortages of food, water, electricity, and oxygen for a week, was raided by Israeli troops. Israel claimed Hamas had a command center under the hospital, a claim rejected by Hamas and hospital staff.

The lack of water supply led to hygiene issues, and the prolonged power outage affected infants and newborns dependent on oxygen. The hospital's dire conditions prompted the Palestinian Authority to condemn the evacuations, calling it a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe and accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing and genocide against Palestinians.