Doctor at al-Shifa Hospital describes ‘24 hour bombings’

Doctor Bader, who works at al-Shifa hospital, said that direct attacks on al-Shifa have been “ongoing for 24 hours” since 9 November. 

“There was direct bombing on the hospital, cars parked outside were set alight, it was a very violent night on 9 November. When the sun rose, the bombing continued on the hospital’s maternity and women’s ward. The Israeli army called us doctors,  mentioning us by name, and told us to move to the south, they said we have from 9 until four,” he told Middle East Eye.

“People got scared and they started to leave the hospital, but the bombing continued, and it started to worsen. Us doctors decided to leave with people, there’s no transport so we had to walk in the thousands until we got to a certain point to find a car before walking for miles again. After that, armed Israeli police, around 20 of them, searched us.”

“On our way to the south there were dead bodies, limbs, of humans and animals along the way, we saw buildings destroyed. We had to walk with our ID held up in the air so the Israeli army could see it, we weren't allowed to make eye contact with the police or tanks. One man didn’t have his ID up in the air, and him and all those around him were stopped and searched. Until now we don’t know if he was killed or what,” he added.