Israeli doctors group calls for bombing Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza

JERUSALEM

Despite widespread condemnation of such attacks, a group of Israeli doctors on Sunday released a statement claiming that Al-Shifa Hospital in the besieged Gaza Strip is a base for "armed Palestinian groups" and called for its bombing.

According to a report on the Israeli news site HaMedash, a group of Israeli doctors, who go by the name Doctors for the Rights of Israeli Soldiers, signed a statement advocating the bombing of Al-Shifa Hospital, a site which has already suffered attacks in the last 72 hours.

The statement, which was endorsed by doctors working within the healthcare system, claim that the Israeli military's bombing of Al-Shifa Hospital was a "legitimate right."

It also alleges that Al-Shifa, Gaza's largest hospital, serves as a base for "Palestinian armed groups."

A similar declaration calling for the bombing of Al-Shifa Hospital was previously issued, with 47 rabbis endorsing it, making similar claims.

Thirteen Palestinians were killed and 26 others injured on Friday in an Israeli bombing that targeted ambulances in front of Al-Shifa, according to the Health Ministry in Gaza.

The ministry said the ambulances were carrying a number of wounded people for treatment in Egypt.

“We had notified the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the entire world through communication channels of the movement of ambulances carrying the injured to Egypt, but the occupation (forces) committed the crime with utmost brazenness,” the ministry added.

There was widespread condemnation of the Friday bombings. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday said he was “horrified” by the attack, saying on X: "The images of bodies strewn on the street outside the hospital are harrowing."

Under the rules of war, attacks on civilian facilities such as hospitals are prohibited. Israel has claimed the Palestinian group Hamas is hiding in or around such facilities.

Last week the Israeli army widened its air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which has been under relentless airstrikes since the surprise Oct. 7 offensive by Hamas.

More than 10,700 people have been killed in the conflict, including at least 9,240 Palestinians and more than 1,538 Israelis.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala in Istanbul