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GAZA (Reuters) – Israel struck an ambulance in Gaza Metropolis on Friday that it stated was carrying militants, however which well being authorities within the Hamas-controlled enclave stated was evacuating wounded folks from the besieged north to the south of the territory.
Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesperson for the well being ministry in Gaza, stated the ambulance was a part of a convoy that Israel focused leaving al-Shifa Hospital, including that “a giant quantity” had been killed and wounded however with out giving figures.
Qidra stated Israel had focused the convoy of ambulances in multiple location, together with at al-Shifa Hospital gate and at Ansar Sq. a kilometer (0.6 miles) away.
Israel’s army stated it had recognized and hit an ambulance “being utilized by a Hamas terrorist cell” within the battle zone.
It stated a variety of Hamas fighters had been killed within the strike and accused the group of transferring each militants and weapons in ambulances.
It gave no proof to assist its assertion that the ambulance was linked to Hamas however stated in a press release it supposed to launch extra data.
World Well being Organisation Director-Normal Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated in a social media put up he was “completely shocked by studies of assaults on ambulances evacuating sufferers”, including that sufferers, well being staff and medical services have to be protected.
Earlier on Friday, Qidra stated ambulances would ship critically injured Palestinians who urgently have to be taken to Egypt to be handled from besieged Gaza Metropolis to the south of the enclave.
Israel, which has accused Hamas of concealing command centres and tunnel entrances in al-Shifa hospital, ordered all civilians to go away the north of Gaza final month and its army encircled the realm on Thursday.
Regardless of its order for civilians to go away northern areas of Gaza, Israel’s army has continued to bombard the south of the strip as effectively.
Hamas and al-Shifa hospital authorities have denied the power is used as a base by militant fighters.
Video shared on social media, which Reuters has verified, confirmed folks mendacity in blood subsequent to an ambulance with flashing lights on a metropolis road as folks rushed to assist.
One other video confirmed three ambulances standing in a line, with a few dozen folks mendacity both immobile or barely transferring subsequent to them. Blood was pooled close by.
(This story has been refiled to take away an image)
(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Angus McDowall; Enhancing by Alison Williams, Alistair Bell and by Sandra Maler)
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