Watan-Human Rights Watch has acquitted the Hamas movement of the allegations propagated by the Israeli occupation army that the movement’s headquarters is located beneath Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip.
In its report, the organization stated that the Israeli army claims that Hamas’s leadership is situated under Al-Shifa Hospital, with military officials from Hamas present inside the hospital.
Human Rights Watch added that it found no evidence supporting this Israeli claim, emphasizing that serious reports have emerged in recent hours about the shelling of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, resulting in casualties and injuries.
7/16◀️بحسب التقارير، يستمر تعرض المستشفى والمنطقة المحيطة لإطلاق النار منذ الضربة التي أصابت سيارة الإسعاف أمام المستشفى
— هيومن رايتس ووتش (@hrw_ar) November 10, 2023
The organization pointed out that satellite images reviewed on November 7th showed Israeli forces located two kilometers away from various directions.
Human Rights Watch highlighted that the ongoing bombing and fighting near Al-Shifa Hospital raise serious concerns about the safety of thousands of civilians there, including many children. It noted that among the patients and the injured are those in need of ventilators, amputees from airstrikes, and burn victims.
According to the organization, videos from inside the Al-Shifa complex, verified by them, show hundreds of people in the courtyard near the emergency room. Among them are civilians seeking refuge, paramedics caring for patients, emergency workers collecting bodies, journalists, and satellite images revealing numerous tents in the area.
As shown in videos and images captured in recent days, civilians and emergency workers are bringing hundreds of wounded and dead to the hospital day and night, using ambulances, cars, or carts pulled by animals. People enter and exit regularly through the hospital’s main entrance.
On November 3rd of this month, an Israeli airstrike hit an ambulance just a few meters from the main entrance of the hospital. The images and videos that have been verified indicate that at least 21 people, including 5 children, were killed or injured.
Human Rights Watch stated that the Israeli army claimed the ambulance was transporting Palestinian fighters but provided no evidence to support this claim.
The organization added, “According to reports, the hospital and the surrounding area continue to be under gunfire since the strike on the ambulance in front of the hospital.”
Human Rights Watch emphasized that hospitals are afforded special protection under the laws of war and should only lose that protection if used for harmful acts against the enemy, following appropriate warning. It noted that the evacuation of patients and hospital staff should be the last resort only.
Evacuation poses a danger to everyone
According to the Human Rights Watch report, the Israeli occupation army called for the evacuation of Al-Shifa Hospital, stating on November 8th that “time is running out” for civilians to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip via Salah al-Din Street. The army claims to keep the street “open” for a few hours each time.
The report highlighted that the main route from the hospital to Salah al-Din Street is Omar al-Mukhtar Street. Data collected from November 6th to 9th showed several fires along this route.
Human Rights Watch clarified that civilians in the hospital and the adjacent areas are unable to use the coastal road to escape.
10/16◀️دعا الجيش الإسرائيلي إلى إخلاء مستشفى الشفاء، وقال في 8 نوفمبر إن "الوقت ينفد" أمام المدنيين لإخلاء شمال قطاع غزة عبر شارع صلاح الدين، الذي يقول الجيش الإسرائيلي إنه يبقيه "مفتوحا" لبضع ساعات كل مرة.
— هيومن رايتس ووتش (@hrw_ar) November 10, 2023
Israeli armored vehicles are obstructing movement near the hospital
Satellite images dated November 7th revealed Israeli armored vehicles and a roadblock about two kilometers southwest of the hospital on that street, with additional armored vehicles located two kilometers northeast of Al-Shifa Hospital.
Human Rights Watch stated that civilians who remain in their locations after the evacuation warning, including those who cannot leave, fear moving, or choose not to evacuate, do not lose their status as civilians under the laws of war.
World leaders were urged to press the Israeli occupation forces to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure and refrain from carrying out unlawful attacks. There is an urgent call for immediate action to prevent further instances of collective atrocities.