US president Joe Biden backs Israeli raid on al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza

A picture taken from the border between Israel and Gaza shows smoke billowing during Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip on November 16, 2023, amid the ongoing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Pic/AFP

US President Joe Biden has said that it is "not realistic" to expect Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza. While reiterating the claim of a Hamas base at the al-Shifa Hospital, the US president did not offer any concrete proof to substantiate the assertion, Al Jazeera reported on Thursday.

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for extended humanitarian pauses in Gaza, with the United States, United Kingdom, and Russia abstaining from the vote. However, the calls for an immediate ceasefire went unanswered.

Israeli forces carried out another raid at the al-Shifa medical complex in Gaza City, Al Jazeera reported quoting a doctor from inside the hospital. This comes in the wake of Hamas rejecting claims made by Israeli forces regarding the discovery of weapons during a previous hours-long raid.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry issued a warning against what they termed as Israel's "misleading fabrications" about al-Shifa, a facility where thousands seek shelter amidst the ongoing conflict.

The casualty toll continues to rise, with more than 11,300 Palestinians reported killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7. In Israel, the official death toll from attacks by Hamas stands at over 1,200.

On Wednesday, Israeli forces conducted raids on Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the largest medical complex in the Strip, where thousands of people have sought refuge. A doctor within the facility told Al Jazeera that the Israeli incursion has instilled fear among patients, displaced individuals, and health workers.

Also read: Thousands trapped as Israeli forces raid al-Shifa hospital in Gaza Strip

Despite denials from Hamas, Israeli accusations persist that hospitals in Gaza, including Al-Shifa, are being used as command centers. Hamas, in turn, accuses Israel and the United States of attempting to justify what it calls "brutal massacres."

The death toll continues to rise, with over 11,300 Palestinians reported killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7. Meanwhile, in Israel, the official death toll from Hamas attacks has surpassed 1,200.

Amid the chaos, an Al-Shifa Hospital doctor told news wire Reuters that gunfire from outside the hospital is compelling staff to stay away from windows following the Israeli raid. The doctor vehemently denies Israeli accusations that Hamas is utilizing the hospital as a command center. (With inputs from agencies)