In Gaza territory, the ongoing operation at Al-Shifa Hospital is raising concerns as videos reveal women hiding in stairwells, under threat of being shot if they leave the premises. Footage filmed through a hole in a wall shows around 20 women and children huddled together on a staircase, while a voice booms through a loudspeaker, urging them to stay: “Stay in the hospital, anyone will come out will be shot. We take care of you, don’t worry.”
The tension is palpable in the testimony of a woman claiming to be held at Al-Shifa, deploring the hasty departure of the men and the confusion over their destination. The alarming comments are reinforced by a man mentioning plumes of smoke escaping from the enclosure. In this climate of uncertainty, residents find themselves trapped, confronted with scenes of destruction and violence described as a veritable battlefield by Gaza Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal.
Local populations witness the desolation caused by persistent conflicts, while authorities struggle to guarantee the safety of relief supplies in a high-tension area. Forced evacuations take place in a climate of chaos, leaving behind scenes of desolation and suffering. Communications with Israeli authorities are on hold, leaving a veil of uncertainty over the fate of the trapped residents.
In Gaz, horror and tragedy combine in a gripping picture of the devastating impact of armed conflicts on the civilian population. The humanitarian emergency shows its darkest face at Al-Shifa Hospital, providing a heartbreaking glimpse into the brutal reality of a territory gripped by violence and fear.