TEL AVIV: Patients and civilians seeking shelter were at gunpoint as Israeli forces stormed inside Al-Shifa, Gaza's largest hospital. The Israeli infiltration happened as part of doubt from Tel Aviv about Al Shifa working as a major command centre for Hamas leaders. About 2,300 people in the hospital are isolated from the outside world. Meanwhile, international pressure is mounting on Israel for a ceasefire.

Hundreds of Israeli soldiers and six tanks stormed the Al Shifa area on Wednesday morning. The seriously ailing patients were clutched in fear seeing the Israeli infiltration. In the wake of the external conflict, WHO lost contact with Al-Shifa

The army searched the rooms and basement of the 22-acre hospital. The army later cordoned off the main building during the search operations. It is reported that the mission is still continuing in the hospital. Meanwhile, one doctor in Al Shifa said that he had already been alerted by Israel sources about a search.

Israel barged into Al-Shifa’s entrance gate after shooting down Hamas guards. Medical aid, incubators and baby food were brought in tanks for those in the hospital. Medical teams and Arabic-speaking soldiers were deployed to deliver these to the needy. Weapons were recovered during the raid. Israel claims it has secret information about Hamas’s command centre working inside the hospital. Hamas decried US assistance to Israel in the pillage conducted at the hospital.

On another note, a fuel truck arrived in Gaza for the first time from Egypt via the Rafah border. Israel allowed 24,000 litres of fuel for UN trucks. Israel claimed that fuel for ambulances was brought out to Al-Shifa but the officials couldn’t accept it due to threats from Hamas.