Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza’s main hospital after two-week raid, leaving destruction and dead bodies
Israeli forces have withdrawn from Gaza’s main hospital after a two-week raid, leaving behind destroyed buildings and dead bodies.
The military said it had killed some 200 Hamas and other militants and detained hundreds more in clashes in the area of the hospital, and had seized weapons and intelligence documents.
Hundreds rushed to the area around the hospital to investigate the damage and say they found bodies inside and outside the facility.
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Pic: Maxar Technologies
Before and after images show the sheer level of destruction at the hospital.
Pictures show the charred remains and damage to some of Shifa’s largest buildings, including the surgery building and emergency department.
Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals for military purposes and has raided several medical facilities.
But critics accuse the army of recklessly endangering civilians and further damaging a health sector already overwhelmed with war wounded.
The UN health agency said several patients died and dozens were put at risk during the raid, which brought even further destruction to the hospital.
Palestinians say Israeli troops forcibly evacuated homes near Shifa Hospital and forced hundreds of residents to march south.
Palestinians inspect damage in the area around al Shifa Hospital. Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
At least 21 patients have died since the raid began, World Health Organisation director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus posted on X.
He said over 100 patients were still inside the compound, including four children and 28 critical patients, adding there were no nappies, urine bags or water to clean wounds and many patients suffered from infected wounds and dehydration.
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Pics: Reuters
The military previously raided Shifa in November after saying Hamas had an elaborate command and control centre inside and underneath the compound.
It revealed a tunnel running beneath the hospital leading to a few rooms, as well as weapons it said it had confiscated from inside medical buildings, but nothing on the scale of what it had alleged before the raid.
Tens of thousands protest in Israel as Netanyahu’s undergoes surgery
It comes a day after tens of thousands of people in Israel took part in anti-government protests while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu underwent “successful” surgery for a hernia.
Protesters in Jerusalem urged the government to reach a ceasefire deal to free dozens of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas and called for an early election, which is not due to happen until the spring of 2026.
Hostage negotiations resumed on Sunday, according to an Egyptian state-run TV station citing security sources, but there were no signs a breakthrough was imminent.
Before his surgery Mr Netnayahu said he understood the pain the families of hostages are in, but argued calling for a new election nearly two years early would only halt hostage negotiations.
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‘Nothing will stop’ Rafah operation
‘No victory without going into Rafah’
Mr Netanyahu also repeated his vow for a military ground offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where more than half of the territory’s population is sheltering after fleeing from fighting.
“There is no victory without going into Rafah,” he said.
It comes amid reports from US news website Axios that the US and Israel are expecting to hold a virtual meeting on Monday to discuss alternative proposals put forward by President Joe Biden to stop an invasion of the city.
World
Germany: At least one dead and 60-80 injured after car attack in German city – police find suspected explosives in vehicle
At least 11 people have been killed and dozens of others injured after a car was driven into a crowd at a Christmas market in Germany, local media reports.
News agency dpa said the driver has been arrested following the incident in the eastern city of Magdeburg, while Public broadcaster MDR reports almost 70 people have been injured – 15 seriously.
A city spokesman said the initial assessment is that this was an attack, with all hospitals in the nearby city of Halle preparing for a mass casualty event, according to a security official.
Germany latest as car shown ‘driving at speed’
German newspaper Bild reports at least 11 people have been killed and MDR said police have blocked off the area as there is a suspicion of explosives in the suspect’s car.
City spokesman Michael Reif said he suspects it was a deliberate act, adding there are “numerous injured” and that the “pictures are terrible”.
Magdeburg’s University Hospital said it is treating 10-20 patients and preparing for more, dpa reports.
Emergency services at the Christmas market in Magdeburg. Pic: AP
Germany‘s chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said “the news suggests something bad” and that his thoughts are with “the victims and their families”.
The state premier Reiner Haseloff, who is on his way to the scene, said it is a “terrible event, especially now in the days before Christmas”, according to MDR.
Pic: AP
Police said on X that “extensive operations” were taking place at the market, which has been closed.
Weihnachtsmarkt Magdeburg has posted on Instagram warning people to leave the market and allow emergency services to do their work.
Pic: D’rthe Hein/picture-alliance/dpa/AP
Sky News’s Europe correspondent Siobhan Robbins said initial videos from the scene show what appears to be a car “driving at speed” into a crowd at a Christmas market.
“The police have put out a statement saying there’s an extensive police operation that’s going on and they haven’t officially said yet whether this is terror,” she added.
“That of course will be something that a lot of people will be asking. There has been a warning for Christmas markets across Europe to be on high alert for possible terror attacks.”
Pic: dpa via AP
Germany’s interior minister Nancy Faeser said last month there were no concrete signs of a danger to Christmas markets this year, but added it was wise to be vigilant.
On 19 December 2016, an Islamic extremist drove a car into a crowd at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 13 people and injuring dozens more.
Magdeburg, which is west of Berlin, is the state capital of Saxony-Anhalt and has a population of about 240,000.
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World
Russia should have invaded Ukraine ‘earlier’ says Putin – as he addresses possible peace talks
Vladimir Putin has said Russia should have invaded Ukraine earlier, in a national address spanning more than four hours.
Russia began the conflict with its neighbour in February 2022 and at his annual televised news conference, Mr Putin claimed the war has made Russia “stronger”.
The decision to invade “should have been made earlier” he added, before stating Russia could have “prepared for it in advance and more thoroughly”.
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He claimed: “Russia has become much stronger over the past two or three years because it has become a truly sovereign country.
“We are standing firm in terms of economy, we are strengthening our defence potential and our military capability now is the strongest in the world.”
The news conference also saw Mr Putin address a possible end to the war, as he said he is “ready to compromise” in possible talks with US President-elect Donald Trump.
He said he was open to meeting Mr Trump, who has pledged to negotiate a deal to end the conflict, saying the two would “have things to discuss”.
“Politics is the art of compromise. We have always said that we are ready for both talks and compromise,” he said.
Mr Putin’s news conference being broadcast on a giant screen in Moscow. Pic: AP
“Soon, those Ukrainians who want to fight will run out, in my opinion, soon there will be no one left who wants to fight,” he continued. “We are ready, but the other side needs to be ready for both negotiations and compromises…”
Any talks should be based on “the situation on the ground”, Mr Putin added, referring to conditions he previously laid out.
He has previously demanded Ukraine withdraw its bid to join NATO and asked it to recognise Russia’s gains. Both Kyiv and the West have rejected those demands.
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Mr Putin also said Moscow will only be ready to sign a deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy if he secures re-election.
Mr Zelenskyy’s five-year term technically came to an end in May but was extended due to martial law.
In response to a question about Moscow’s new hypersonic missile, he mockingly challenged the US to a “high-tech duel” to see whether Western tech could protect Ukraine from a strike using the weapon.
With a dry smile, he said: “Let them select a target, possibly in Kyiv, put their air defence assets there and we shall strike it with the Oreshnik [missile]. Let’s see what happens.”
Zelenskyy responds to Putin’s comments
Mr Putin’s comments have already sparked a strong response from Mr Zelenskyy, who is currently in Brussels for a summit on the Ukraine war.
In response to the duel suggestion, Mr Zelenskyy replied: “Do you think he is a sane person?”
Mr Zelenskyy addressing a European Union leaders summit in Brussels today. Pic: Reuters
In a show of solidarity with Ukraine, a number of EU leaders at the summit repeated a variation of a common mantra – nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about security in Europe without Europeans.
Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden said: “We need to stand with Ukraine, and every step […] needs to be taken with Ukraine and in the presence of the European Union.
“The future of Ukraine is decided in Europe and not elsewhere.”
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