Witnesses say hundreds of bodies were found inside al-Shifa Medical Complex and outside in the surrounding streets.
Israel has withdrawn its forces from Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital following a two-week operation, leaving behind scenes of devastation.
The Israeli military confirmed the sudden pullback on Monday, stating it had completed operational activity in the area of the hospital and claiming to have killed and captured numerous Hamas fighters. Witnesses report a swath of death and destruction at the medical complex, where a large number of displaced Palestinians were sheltering.
“Troops have completed precise operational activity in the area of the Shifa Hospital and exited the area,” the Israeli military said.
The army launched the raid on Gaza’s largest hospital, in the northern Gaza City, on March 18. It says it was targeting Hamas fighters who were using the complex as a base.
Israel forces have made similar claims throughout the war that broke out in October as they have besieged several hospitals in Gaza. Hamas has denied operating from al-Shifa or other health facilities.
Al-Shifa, which endured a previous siege in November, now appears to be largely in ruins.
People are trying to salvage what they can, reports Al Jazeera’s Ismail al-Ghoul from al-Shifa, noting that the hospital was serving as a shelter for displaced people, as well as housing numerous staff and patients.
“There is no life here. The complex is in ruins and cannot be revived,” he reports.
“Buildings in all departments have been burned, and the structure of the complex has been damaged from the inside,” al-Ghoul continued. “From what we can see, it appears the occupation forces deliberately targeted the health sector and destroyed the largest medical complex in Gaza City.”
