Hamas militants ‘among hundreds held at hospital’

Israel claims to have captured hundreds of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) fighters at Gaza’s largest hospital, but acknowledged that a list of supposed militants arrested at the site contained errors. Israeli soldiers entered al-Shifa in Gaza City on Monday and have remained at the complex throughout the week. The military claims to have killed hundreds of enemy fighters and detained more than 350 members of Hamas and PIJ.

Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said soldiers had used “deception tactics” to snare the militants, and claimed that the detainees included several senior commanders. The military released a collage on Thursday showing the faces of captured militants. But journalists noted it included several duplicates. Palestinian social media users identified prominent civil society figures such as paediatrician Dr Anwar Khalil. Hamas claimed that several of the supposed detainees were dead or living outside Gaza. Israel admitted mistakes yesterday. “Due to human error, there are several photos in the graphic of terrorists who have not yet been caught but are, according to the information we have, in the area of the hospital and are entrenched there,” its statement said. “IDF forces continue their efforts to arrest them.” Israel has been criticised by the UN and humanitarian groups for assaults on hospitals and depriving them of fuel and resources. The World Health Organisation has documented 410 attacks on healthcare facilities in Gaza during the war, and claims that 23 of 36 hospitals in the territory are no longer functioning.

Al-Shifa is one of the few hospitals in Gaza that is still providing services, as well as a shelter for thousands of displaced Palestinians (inset). Israel claims that Hamas is using healthcare facilities as military bases. Enemy gunmen were holding positions in the hospital, Rear Admiral Hagari said yesterday.