Viral video appears to show Hamas firing on civilians fleeing Gaza hospital
Harrowing video shows Palestinian civilians being shot at — apparently by Hamas snipers — while trying to flee a pediatric cancer hospital where terrorists have barricaded themselves against the ongoing ground assault by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
Footage posted on X Friday shows families walking onto a side street waving white flags before gunfire is heard, sending the crowd scrambling for shelter while a child can be heard crying.
Media intelligence agency Storyful confirmed that the video was recorded at the al-Nasr Pediatric Hospital based on Google Maps images, but was unable to say whether the terror group or Israeli forces was responsible.
Independent journalist Alexander Higgins reported on X that jihadists began shooting after Israeli forces agreed to allow civilians to evacuate the hospital.
The Israel Defense Forces have surrounded the facility — which it says doubles as a terrorist citadel — as it attempts to root out Hamas in response to its Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that killed more than 1,400 people, including 33 Americans.
The video appeared one day after the White House said Israel had agreed to daily humanitarian pauses to allow non-combatants to get out of the line of fire.
Israel has repeatedly implored civilians to move south as its forces continue their siege of the northern parts of Gaza.
“We were carrying white flags and when we walked out, we passed by the tanks,” Baqr Qaoud, the hospital director, told the Washington Post. “I was meters away from one.”
As Qaoud walked past, he said, he saw the tanks close in on the building.
The World Health Organization reported that the hospital was suffering from “significant bombardment” by Israeli airstrikes, and the Hamas-run health ministry later claimed the building was on fire after a direct hit.
Inside, one person who identified themselves as a member of the hospital staff pleaded for help online, claiming they were surrounded.
“We are blocked inside the hospital by tanks, and we are exposed to heavy fire against us,” an online post read, according to Reuters.
“We don’t have electricity, no oxygen for patients, no fresh water. The situation here is very difficult and dangerous.��
“While the world sees neighborhoods with schools, hospitals, scout groups, children’s playgrounds and mosques, Hamas sees an opportunity to exploit,” the IDF has said.
Gaza officials said Israel had struck al-Shifa Hospital five times since Thursday night.
At least one shell landed in the courtyard of the building, where the World Health Organization has reported “intense violence.”
The Palestine Red Crescent has also reported that Israeli forces were shooting at the al-Quds hospital, resulting in violent clashes.
Despite Israel’s warnings to evacuate, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashrat al-Qidra claims it has been impossible to clear out the hospitals.
“We are talking about 45 babies in incubators, 52 children in intensive care units, hundreds of wounded and patients — and tens of thousands of displaced people,” al-Qidra claimed of the population at al-Shifa.
The health ministry has reported that 18 of 35 hospitals and 40 other health care centers are without service due to damage from shelling and lack of fuel.
With Post wires
