Israeli troops scour Gaza's Al Shifa hospital for Hamas fighters, arms
By Nidal al-Mughrabi
GAZA (Reuters) — Israeli troops entered Gaza's biggest hospital on Wednesday and searched its rooms and basement, witnesses said, in pursuit of Palestinian Hamas militants, an operation that has stoked global alarm over the fate of thousands of civilians trapped inside.
Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City has become the main target of the incursion into the territory by Israeli forces, who say Hamas fighters located the «beating heart» of their operations in a headquarters in tunnels beneath it, which Hamas denies.
Israel said its troops had uncovered unspecified weapons and «terror infrastructure» inside the hospital compound after killing militants in a clash outside. Once inside, they said there had been no fighting and no friction with civilians, patients or staff.
Hailing the entry of his forces into the hospital after days of encirclement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement: «There is no place in Gaza that we cannot reach. There are no hideouts. There is no shelter or refuge for the Hamas murderers.
»We will reach and eliminate Hamas and we will bring back our hostages. These are two sacred missions," he said.
Witnesses who spoke to Reuters from inside the compound described a situation that appeared calm, if tense, as Israeli troops moved between buildings carrying out searches. Sporadic shooting was heard but there were no immediate reports of anyone hurt inside the grounds.
The Israeli military released photos of a soldier standing beside cardboard boxes marked «medical supplies» and «baby food», at a location Reuters verified was inside Al Shifa. Other photos showed Israeli troops in tactical formation walking past makeshift tents and mattresses.
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