The Israeli military refuted claims on Saturday that it had issued an evacuation order for Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, contradicting reports from Palestinian media that suggested the army had instructed everyone to vacate the medical facility within an hour.
In a Hebrew statement posted on X, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) clarified that it had merely "responded to the request of the director of Shifa Hospital to allow Gazan citizens, who were taking shelter in the hospital and wished to evacuate, to do so via a secure axis leading to the humanitarian crossing in the Gaza Strip."
Emphasizing that, at no point, did the IDF request the evacuation of patients or medical teams, the military underscored its commitment to coordinating medical evacuations whenever requested. It pledged to facilitate the transfer of patients to alternative hospitals as needed.
Contrary to the evacuation rumors, the IDF affirmed that medical teams would remain in Al-Shifa Hospital. The military also highlighted its ongoing provision of food, water, and humanitarian aid to the medical complex throughout the night.
The IDF recounted an 18-hour operation on Wednesday, led by special forces with additional troop support, targeting Hamas terror infrastructure at Al-Shifa. During the operation, the military claimed to have discovered weapons and Hamas assets within the premises, interrogating individuals at the enclave's largest hospital.
Persistent Israeli allegations assert that Palestinian armed groups maintain a military compound within and beneath Shifa Hospital. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza and the hospital's management vehemently denied these claims, urging an independent investigation.
Israel announced its intent to disclose "more and more material" uncovered during the military's search operation. Despite denying the evacuation order, the nation acknowledged the possibility of Hamas terrorists hiding in certain areas within the facility.
(With Agency Inputs)
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