Doctors accuse Israeli troops of desecrating bodies and shooting civilians at hospital Israel says was Hamas ‘command center’

Israeli authorities have faced a growing chorus of criticism, including from doctors, for their handling of the violence at a hospital in Gaza City on July 16, where they said militants had taken over. According to The Times of Israel, doctors accused military forces of desecrating bodies, shooting at civilians, and using white phosphorous munitions in the hospital. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said that that Palestinian militant group Hamas had taken over the Al-Shifa hospital and made it a “command center”, which was used to launch operations and store weapons. Medical personnel had said they saw Israeli troops taking photos of dead bodies, with some of them sprawled out on the floor, and others being dragged from the hospital. The Israeli troops had denied the accusations until recently, when the IDF released the photographs taken by their soldiers that night. The IDF stated that it was “turning the tide” in the fight against Hamas, which would “require us to take action to restore order in hostile areas.” It also denied allegations that its forces intentionally targeted civilians or were reckless in handling of dead bodies. However, it has conceded that “there could have been a possible mistake in the actions taken” by its soldiers. The United Nations has since opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the hospital’s attack and the Israeli military’s conduct. While the outcome of the investigation is yet to be determined, the incident raised questions about the use of force and the protection of civilians’ rights during times of conflict.