The Israeli military said on March 20 that it had killed about 90 militants and captured 160 others in the past 24 hours in an attack on Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip and one of the few partially functioning medical facilities in the northern part of the enclave. The hospital is also a shelter for many civilians displaced by the fighting.
Inside Al-Shifa hospital in January
According to Reuters, Israel said it also discovered many weapons in the hospital and prevented unwanted injuries to civilians, patients and medical staff there.
The raid on Al-Shifa Hospital began at dawn on March 18, following intelligence reports that Hamas militants were operating inside. The Israeli military said special forces, infantry and tanks were involved in the operation. Hamas denied Israeli reports that the hospital was being used as a command center.
Israel was widely criticized when it first attacked the hospital in November 2023, when soldiers discovered tunnels they said were being used by militants as a command center.
People evacuated from the area around Al-Shifa hospital on March 18.
The Israeli military is also preparing for a major ground operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which is considered the last stronghold of Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Israeli parliament's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on March 19 that the operation would take place despite opposition from the United States and many Western countries.
"We have a disagreement with the Americans about the need to enter Rafah. It's not about eliminating Hamas, it's about entering Rafah. We don't see a way to eliminate Hamas militarily without destroying these remaining battalions. We are determined to do that," Netanyahu told lawmakers.
Earlier, in a phone call on March 18, US President Joe Biden told Mr. Netanyahu that an operation in Rafah would be a “mistake.” Prime Minister Netanyahu said he had made this clear to President Biden and there was no other way but a ground operation.
According to AFP, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will visit Washington next week. In addition, an Israeli delegation will also travel to the US at the request of President Biden to discuss the expected attack.
Cars destroyed after a bombardment in Rafah on March 19.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to the Middle East on March 20 for the sixth time since the Hamas-Israel conflict began. This trip is aimed at promoting a temporary ceasefire and the release of hostages. According to Reuters, Mr. Blinken will go to Jeddah to meet with Saudi Arabian leaders, then to Cairo to meet with Egyptian officials to discuss the agreement as well as humanitarian aid in Gaza.
In a related development, Canadian officials announced that they would stop providing all arms shipments to Israel because of the military campaign in Gaza. Canada, which used to provide Israel with billions of dollars in weapons aid each year, has reduced its supply to non-lethal equipment since the Hamas-Israel conflict broke out.
Speaking to the Toronto Star on March 19, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said that future arms exports to Israel would be halted. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized the decision, saying it affected his country's right to self-defense against Hamas.
Meanwhile, US Senator Bernie Sanders welcomed the move by his ally, calling on Washington to do the same due to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Earlier this week, the Canadian parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling on the international community to move toward a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine issue.
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