Israeli troops pull out of Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital – witnesse

Israeli troops have pulled out of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, according to witnesses who spoke to the BBC.

The medical facility was first raided two weeks ago after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had intelligence indicating Hamas was using it as a base to launch attacks.

Heavy fighting has been reported around the hospital, the largest in Gaza, in recent weeks.

Hamas denies using medical sites to carry out military operations.

Following the withdrawal on Monday, Palestinian media reports said dozens of bodies were found in the vicinity of the complex, citing witnesses and the Hamas-run health ministry.

The BBC has not verified those reports. But the World Health Organization (WHO) has said 21 patients have died in al-Shifa in the past two weeks, while Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said more than 200 “terrorists” were killed.

When the raid was first announced, IDF chief spokesman Daniel Hagari said “Hamas terrorists have regrouped inside al-Shifa hospital”.

The IDF said then it was launching a “high-precision” operation on the grounds of the hospital and urged displaced civilians sheltering on its grounds to leave immediately.

Witnesses reported heavy gunfire and tanks surrounding the facility when the raid began in early hours of the morning on 18 March.

Al-Shifa was raided earlier in the conflict after Israel said it had evidence that hostages captured during the 7 October attack were taken there.

Israel has long accused Hamas of using civilian health infrastructure as a cover to launch its operations, which the Palestinian group refutes.

Source BBC News