The Israeli army continued its operation on Thursday, November 16 in al-Chifa hospital, the main one in Gaza. According to the IDF, it is a strategic Hamas military site. But the place also sees thousands of civilians crowded together, which raises serious international concerns. “Tonight we are carrying out a targeted operation in al-Chifa hospital. We continue to move forward”, Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman said late Wednesday evening on the army’s Telegram channel. The Israeli army then confirmed to AFP on Thursday that its “soldiers” were still deployed within the hospital. Follow our live stream.
Evidence put forward by the IDF. The Israeli army claims to have found “munitions, weapons and military equipment” Hamas in the hospital. It has published images of what it claims are weapons, grenades and other equipment found in al-Chifa. The AFP was unable to independently verify these claims.
Hamas speaks of further destruction. “Israeli bulldozers destroyed parts of the southern entrance” from the hospital, the Hamas administration’s health ministry announced in a brief statement in Arabic.
International concerns. US President Joe Biden, a key supporter of Israel, called on his ally overnight to be “extremely careful” in the conduct of his operation at al-Chifa hospital. French President Emmanuel Macron, for his part, condemned “with the greatest firmness” the bombing of civilian infrastructure in Gaza.