Israeli forces enter largest hospital in Gaza Strip

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Israel says its forces have entered Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, the site of a lengthy standoff.

It said on Wednesday that its forces were conducting a "precise" operation against Hamas in a specific area of the complex, while taking steps to avoid harm to civilians.

Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals as cover for its fighters, alleging that Hamas has set up its main command center in and beneath Al-Shifa hospital, the largest in the besieged territory. Both Hamas and Al-Shifa hospital staff members deny the Israeli allegations.

The hospital has become a symbol of the widespread suffering of Palestinian civilians during the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Mohammed Zaqout, director of hospitals in Gaza, said Israeli tanks had entered the medical compound and that soldiers had entered buildings, including the emergency and surgery departments, which house intensive care units.

The patients, including children, are terrified. He said: "They are screaming. It's a very terrifying situation … we can do nothing for the patients but pray."

Ashraf al-Qedra, spokesman of the health ministry in Gaza, said: "There is nothing that would require shooting inside the hospital because there is no form of resistance there, and what the occupation is doing constitutes terrorism for those in the complex."

About 1,500 staff members and 7,000 displaced people are stuck in the hospital, depending on capacity, al-Qedra said.

Israeli forces also claimed control of several key buildings and a downtown neighborhood in Gaza City.

Most of the hundreds of thousands of people living in Gaza City and surrounding areas have fled after weeks of Israeli bombardments. Little aid has been delivered to the north, which has been without power or running water for weeks.

Israeli defense officials changed course early on Wednesday to allow some 24,000 liters of fuel in for humanitarian efforts, officials said. Earlier, they rejected allowing fuel into Gaza, saying Hamas would divert it for military use.

US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that he believes a deal with Hamas to free the hostages the militants are holding in the Gaza Strip will happen, but did not offer details.

Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, and the White House said the two "discussed at length ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas".

Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to intensify international efforts toward an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

During a phone conversation, both leaders focused on the latest developments in the Palestinian coastal enclave, the Egyptian presidency said.

They also agreed on exerting efforts to allow urgent access to humanitarian aid and taking the necessary measures to protect civilians and stop the bloodshed.

Agencies - Xinhua