Israel and Lebanon agreed to renew a conditional ceasefire that would require Hezbollah to stop firing and leave parts of southern Lebanon. Strikes continued after the announcement, while Iran warned that any Israeli attack on Beirut could restart a wider war.
Posts tagged as “Al-Shifa Hospital”
Israeli security forces have arrested the director of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, citing evidence that the facility had been used as a Hamas command and control center. The statement also said that Hamas had stored weapons inside the hospital and on the hospital grounds. This arrest comes as a diplomatic breakthrough in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with the implications yet to be seen.
Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer did not directly answer questions about the Israeli raid on Shifa Hospital in Gaza, which the Qatari Prime Minister called a "crime". Israeli officials released images of what they said were Hamas fighters taking captured Israeli military vehicles to the hospital on the same day, resulting in hundreds of patients, including 31 premature babies, having to be evacuated. Finer noted that several civilians took refuge at the hospital during the conflict, sparking a debate over whether Israel is breaking international law.
The United States is working to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, with Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer appearing on Sunday news shows to discuss the situation. Finer noted that a deal between Israel and Hamas is close, but that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. The White House is committed to doing everything it can to bring hostages home safely, and is working directly and intensively behind the scenes to achieve this goal.
On Wednesday, Israel's military raided the Al-Shifa Hospital complex in Gaza, evacuating the facility and searching for Hamas fighters and evidence of an underground command center. U.S. officials have stated they have evidence of a Hamas command center, while Hamas and hospital staff deny this. Human rights groups have called on Israel to respect international law and protect civilians and medical facilities, and the United Nations has called for an independent investigation.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a targeted operation against Hamas in Al-Shifa hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza, after President Biden called for its protection. The IDF had given a 12-hour ultimatum to cease all military activities within the hospital, but Hamas had not complied. The operation is based on intelligence and “operation necessity”, but the outcome is yet to be seen.
Medical Aid for Palestinians has warned that babies in the neonatal unit at Al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip cannot be safely moved due to the ongoing fighting, as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have attacked two major hospitals in the region. The European Union has joined the chorus of voices calling for a cease-fire, but the Israeli government has yet to respond and the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has come under fire for his comments on Palestinian casualties in the ongoing conflict with Hamas, which human rights experts have warned could amount to war crimes. Since the violence escalated, more than 11,100 Palestinians have been killed according to the Gaza Health Ministry. In an interview with President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, he expressed his condolences to those who have lost loved ones in the conflict and discussed the war against Hamas, saying they are doing their utmost to protect citizens and bring an end to the conflict.