WHO says 21 patients dead as Israeli forces reportedly withdraw troops from Al-Shifa Hospital

The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the evacuation of patients from the al-Shifa Hospital, as it announced that 21 patients have died since Israel began its siege of the facility on March 18.

The UN health agency further declared that at least four people were killed in an Israeli air attack on the courtyard of the Al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the WHO, described the situation at al-Shifa Hospital as a “siege.”

In a post on X, Dr Tedros explained that more than 100 people were still trapped inside the medical facility, struggling with a lack of food, water, and medical supplies.

Heavy fighting has been reported around the hospital, the largest in Gaza, in recent weeks.

Hamas fighters have denied using medical sites to carry out military operations, as alleged by the Israeli government.

Meanwhile, reports from Gaza say Israeli troops have pulled out of al-Shifa hospital following several days of intense military operations therein.

Palestinian media reported that dozens of bodies were discovered within the compound of the medical facility, citing witnesses and the health ministry.

At least 32,782 Palestinians have been killed and 75,298 wounded in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7.

While the death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attack stands at 1,139, with dozens still held hostage.