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☆ For many Muslim pilgrims, a dangerous unauthorized Hajj is the only option
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Magdy Samaan | Clamping Down On Unauthorized Pilgrimage | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

He was among the more than 1,300 pilgrims who died during this year’s Hajj as temperatures in Saudi Arabia reached record levels. The tragedy, resulting in one of the highest Hajj death tolls in years, has brought attention to the shadowy industry of unauthorized pilgrimage agents. It is unclear how many unauthorized pilgrims made it to this year’s Hajj, but Saudi news outlet Al Sharq Al Awsat reported Tuesday that 141,000 such pilgrims received free medical treatment during the Hajj season. Clamping down on unauthorized pilgrimageBefore this year’s Hajj season started, Saudi authorities warned pilgrims against using agents selling unauthorized Hajj packages and had been in contact with other governments in an effort to crack down on the trend. Authorities had also arrested some illegal agents and issued warnings about penalties for those found to assist unauthorized pilgrims.

Persons: Cairo CNN —, Mahmoud, Salem, “, Abdelzaher Abdo Salem, Om Waleed, Abdelzaher, Mount Arafat, Salem’s, ” Mahmoud, –, Atef, ”, ” Aglan, Aglan, Al Sharq Al Awsat, Hania Hassan Salama, Salama, Mustafa Mohammed, Ahmad, General Muhammad bin Abdullah Al, Rafiq Maqbool Organizations: Cairo CNN, Al, Ma’aisam, Saudi, Egyptian Travel Agents Association, CNN, Hajj, Authorities, Public Security, Hajj Security Locations: Cairo, Abdo Salem, Mecca, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Salem, Abdelzaher, Mount, Mina, “, AFP, Saudi, Medina , Saudi Arabia

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel has not presented specific evidence that Hamas is diverting U.N. aid and its recent targeted killings of Gaza police commanders safeguarding truck convoys have made it “virtually impossible” to distribute the goods safely, a top U.S. envoy said in rare public criticism of Israel. “We are working with the Israeli government, the Israeli military in seeing what solutions can be found here because everyone wants to see the assistance continue,” Satterfield told the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on Friday. On Friday, police opened fire after a crowd charged toward an aid truck that had emerged from the Rafah crossing with Egypt. Israel has alleged repeatedly that Hamas is diverting aid, including fuel, after it enters Gaza, a claim denied by U.N. aid agencies. Last week, an Israeli airstrike on a car killed three senior police commanders in Rafah, the first entry point for aid deliveries.

Persons: — Israel, Israel, David Satterfield, Biden, ” Satterfield, Wael Abu Omar, Satterfield, Joe Biden, Diaa Rashwan, Khan Younis, Gaza’s, city's Nasser, ___ Magdy Organizations: Carnegie Endowment, International, Authority, U.N, Hamas, Ministry, Islamic, Authorities, State Information Service, Gaza Health Ministry, Health Ministry Locations: RAFAH, Gaza, U.S, Rafah, Egypt, Israel, EGYPT, Khan, Cairo, ___, israel

Some of the hardest-hit are babies, young children and their parents, with diapers and formula either hard to find or spiking to unaffordable prices, leading parents to look to inadequate or even unsafe alternatives. “I sold my children’s food so I can buy diapers,” said Raafat Abu Wardeh, who has two children in diapers. A pack of diapers before the war cost 12 shekels ($3.50). There isn’t even aid.”Some parents are using cloth diapers, but those require washing with water, which is also scarce. “This is far from being enough to address the colossal needs of the children in Gaza,” said UNICEF spokesperson Ammar Ammar.

Persons: — Zainab al, Zein, ”, “, Raafat Abu Wardeh, Anis, Zainab, Israel, Ammar Ammar, ” Ammar, Zainab al, Linda, ceaselessly, Magdy Organizations: Health Ministry, Hamas, United Nations ’, UNICEF Locations: DEIR, Gaza, Israel, handouts, Deir, Cairo, israel

BEIRUT (AP) — A drone attack on a base housing U.S. troops in eastern Syria killed six allied Kurdish fighters late Sunday, in the first significant attack in Syria or Iraq since the U.S. launched retaliatory strikes over the weekend against Iran-backed militias that have been targeting its forces in the region. The U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said Monday the attack hit a training ground at al-Omar base in Syria’s eastern province of Deir el-Zour and accused “Syrian regime-backed mercenaries” of carrying out the attack. In late January, a drone attack by the same group killed three U.S. troops and wounded dozens more at a desert base in Jordan. The U.S. military launched dozens of retaliatory strikes targeting Iran-backed militant groups in western Iraq and eastern Syria and also struck the Houthis in Yemen. The attack late Sunday came two days after the U.S. military carried out strikes against militant targets linked to Iran in Syria and Iraq.

Persons: Omar, “, Sunday’s, Samy Magdy Organizations: Syrian Democratic Forces, Human Rights, SDF, Sunday, U.S, U.S . Central Command, U.S . Navy, Britain, Associated Press Locations: BEIRUT, Syria, Kurdish, Iraq, U.S, Iran, The U.S, al, Deir el, Jordan, Yemen, Israel, Britain, Red, Cairo

The Biden administration has expressed unwavering support for Israel since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack that triggered the war, skirting Congress to rush weapons to Israel and shielding its ally from international calls for a cease-fire. Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's national security minister, criticized that approach in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, saying Biden was hindering Israel's war effort and that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump would give Israel greater latitude in fighting Hamas. “Instead of giving us his full backing, Biden is busy with giving humanitarian aid and fuel (to Gaza), which goes to Hamas,” Ben-Gvir said. Netanyahu, without mentioning Ben-Gvir by name, appeared to refer to his remarks when addressing a weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday. Family members of the hostages, with wide public support, are calling on Israel to reach an agreement with Hamas to bring them home.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Itamar Ben, Donald Trump, ” Ben, Gvir, Trump, Benny Gantz, Ben, Gantz, Yair Lapid, Gvir’s, Netanyahu, they’re, ”, ___ Magdy Organizations: JERUSALEM, Hamas, Wall Street, Republican, Health Ministry Locations: Washington, Gaza, Israel, U.S, Qatar, Egypt, Tel Aviv, Cairo, israel

A senior Hamas official said Friday the group will respond “very soon” to a proposal that includes extended pauses in Gaza fighting and phased exchanges of Hamas-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Over 27,000 people have been killed and 66,000 wounded by Israel's offensive against Hamas in Gaza, the territory's Health Ministry said Thursday. — Half of U.S. adults say Israel has gone too far in its war in Gaza, AP-NORC poll shows. Here's the latest:HAMAS EXPECTED TO RESPOND SOON TO PROPOSAL THAT INCLUDES RELEASE OF HOSTAGES AND CEASE-FIRESBEIRUT — A senior Hamas official says the group will respond “very soon” to a proposal that includes extended pauses in Gaza fighting and phased exchanges of Hamas-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Israel has said it would not agree to end the war as a condition for hostage releases.

Persons: —, — Biden, ___, Samy Magdy, SANA, Bashar Assad’s Organizations: Hamas, territory's Health, Health Ministry, West Bank, —, Associated Press, Human Rights Locations: Israel, Gaza, —, U.S, Turkey, West, israel, BEIRUT, United States, Qatar, Egypt, Cairo, Mroue, Beirut, DAMASCUS, BEIRUT —, Damascus, Iran, State, Golan, Britain, Syria

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Palestinian death toll in Gaza from over three months of war between Israel and the territory's Hamas rulers has soared past 25,000, the Gaza Health Ministry said Sunday. At least 178 bodies were brought to Gaza's hospitals in 24 hours along with nearly 300 wounded people, according to Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qidra. Gaza’s Health Ministry says a total of 25,105 Palestinians have been killed in the territory since Oct. 7, and another 62,681 have been wounded. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its death toll but says around two-thirds of those killed were women and minors. The Israeli military says it has killed around 9,000 militants, without providing evidence, and blames the high civilian death toll on Hamas because it fights in dense, residential neighborhoods.

Persons: Ashraf al, Israel, Khan Younis, Qidra, Benjamin Netanyahu, ___ Magdy Organizations: Gaza Health Ministry, Health, United Nations, Health Ministry, Israeli Locations: RAFAH, Gaza, Israel, U.N, Cairo, israel, hama

Video posted Monday to X by Al Jazeera showed hundreds of people rushing toward what appeared to be an aid truck in what the news outlet said was Gaza City. The Associated Press could not immediately independently verify the video and it was not clear when the video was filmed. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images“People in Gaza risk dying of hunger just miles from trucks filled with food,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. Israel blames Hamas for the high death toll, saying its fighters make use of civilian buildings and launch attacks from densely populated urban areas. The U.S., as well as the U.N., have continued to push Israel to ease the flow of aid.

Persons: Israel, Al Jazeera, ”, Cindy McCain, “, Khan Younis, Moshe Tetro, John Kirby, Israel “, “ We’re, Benjamin Netanyahu, ___ Magdy, ___ Organizations: Associated Press, Food Program, UNICEF, World Health Organization, Ministry, Hamas, White, National Security, CBS, ” Locations: RAFAH, Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Egypt, Ashdod, Rafah, U.S, Cairo, Goldenberg, Tel Aviv, israel

Sunday's missile strike came a day after the Israeli army said it killed three militants who had crossed into Israel from Lebanon and attempted to carry out an attack. The latest attacks on Israel, including the deaths of two civilians on Sunday, raised the likelihood of new Israeli reprisals. More than 115,000 Israelis have evacuated from northern Israel due to the ongoing tensions. In Israel, 12 soldiers and seven civilians have died from rocket launches from Lebanon, and more than 170 were injured. Hezbollah has reported at least 150 fighters and 20 civilians have been killed in the near-daily exchanges of fire.

Persons: Yemen’s, Hassan Nasrallah, ” Nasrallah, Israel, Netanyahu, Yuval, SHIELDS, Joe Biden’s, Antony Blinken, Khan Younis, ”, Rami Abu Matouq, ___ Magdy, Chehayeb, Abby Sewell Organizations: JERUSALEM, Sunday, International Court of Justice, Hamas, Islamic Glory Brigades, Associated Press, Islamic, Dublin, White, U.S, Gaza Health Ministry Locations: Israel, Lebanon, Gaza, Iran, Syria, Iraq, U.S, South Africa, Hague, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Jan, Yuval, Israeli, Golan, Islamic Jihad, SHIELDS ISRAEL, Washington , London, Paris, Rome, Milan, ISRAEL, Egypt, United States, Rafah, U.N, Cairo, israel

JERUSALEM (AP) — Houthi rebels fired a missile, striking a U.S.-owned ship Monday just off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, less than a day after they launched an anti-ship cruise missile toward an American destroyer in the Red Sea. The attack on the Gibraltar Eagle, later claimed by the Houthis, further escalates tensions gripping the Red Sea after American-led strikes on the rebels. Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. “The most dangerous thing is what the Americans did in the Red Sea, (it) will harm the security of all maritime navigation,” Nasrallah said. However, U.S. sailors have received combat ribbons for their actions in the Red Sea — something handed out only to those who face active hostilities with an enemy force.

Persons: — Houthi, Yahya Saree, “, ”, Aden “, Arleigh Burke, Joe Biden, Hassan Nasrallah, ” Nasrallah, Biden, It's, Samy Magdy, Lolita C, Bassem, Danica Kirka Organizations: JERUSALEM, Eagle, Hamas, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, Dryad Global, Associated Press, military's Central Command, Command, Eagle Bulk Shipping, New York Stock Exchange, AP, Eagle Bulk, Central Command, U.S . Maritime Administration, Transportation Department Locations: U.S, Yemen, Gulf, Aden, American, Red, Gaza, Suez, Europe, Eagle Gibraltar, Marshall, Stamford , Connecticut, “, America, Sea, Hodeida, Iranian, Israel, East, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Saudi, Cairo, Washington, Bassem Mroue, Beirut, London

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel intensified its bombardment in and around Gaza's second largest city early Tuesday, as ambulances and private cars came racing into a local hospital carrying people wounded in a bloody new phase of the war in Gaza. At the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, ambulances brought dozens of wounded people in throughout the night. “My children, since 10 p.m., are still under the rubble.”Satellite photos taken Sunday showed tanks and troops massing outside Khan Younis, the latest target of the offensive, which was home to more than 400,000 people before the war. Constant bombardment on the edge of Khan Younis lit up the sky over the town Monday evening. The area that Israel ordered evacuated covers about a fifth of Khan Younis.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, — Israel, Khan Younis, ”, “, Jake Sullivan, Mohammed Aghaalkurdi, ___ Magdy, Jon Gambrell Organizations: U.S, Nasser, United Nations, Israel, Health Ministry, White House, The Associated Press, Aid, PalTel, Communications, Associated Press Locations: Gaza, Gaza's, Israel, Khan, United, Gaza City, Egypt, Palestinian, Shijaiya, Cairo, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, israel

The war has already killed thousands of Palestinians and displaced over three-fourths of the territory's population of 2.3 million people, who are running out of safe places to go. Airstrikes and the ground offensive have transformed much of the north, including large areas in Gaza City, into a rubble-filled wasteland. Political Cartoons View All 1277 ImagesAs Israel calls for more areas to be evacuated, it’s not clear where people can go. Israel says it targets Hamas operatives, not civilians, and blames civilian casualties on the militants, accusing them of operating in residential neighborhoods. The U.S. has pledged unwavering support to Israel since the Oct. 7 attack, which killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians, including rushing munitions and other aid to Israel.

Persons: —, Khan Younis, Israel, Daniel Hagari, Mirjana Spoljaric, “, Ashraf al, Qidra, Balah, Omar al, Kamala Harris, Biden, ___ Magdy Organizations: CENTRAL GAZA Residents, Jazeera, International Committee, Palestinian, Ministry, Hamas, Health, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Press, West Bank, White, Palestinian Authority Locations: DEIR, Gaza, Khan, Israel, United States, Gaza City, Egypt, Deir, Al, Israeli, Aqsa, Deir al, U.S, Palestinian, Cairo, ___, israel

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel pounded targets in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, intensifying a renewed offensive that followed a weeklong truce with Hamas and giving rise to renewed concerns about civilian casualties. It divides the Gaza Strip into hundreds of numbered, haphazardly drawn parcels, sometimes across roads or blocks, and asks residents to learn the number of their location in case of an eventual evacuation. During the truce, Israel freed 240 Palestinians from its prisons. After the end of the truce, militants in Gaza resumed firing rockets into Israel, and fighting broke out between Israel and Hezbollah militants operating along its northern border with Lebanon. Israel says 77 of its soldiers have been killed in the ground offensive in northern Gaza.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Israel, Antony Blinken, Younis, ”, Emad Hajar, Khan Younis, “, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden's, ___ Magdy Organizations: United Nations, Egyptian Foreign Ministry, House, Rescue Committee, Health Ministry, Hamas Locations: Gaza, United States, Dubai, Beit Lahia, Khan, Israel, Egypt, U.S, House ., Palestinian, Lebanon, Cairo, Rising, Bangkok, israel

Israel has welcomed the release of dozens of hostages in recent days and says it will maintain the truce if Hamas keeps freeing captives. Weeks of heavy aerial bombardment and a ground invasion have demolished vast swaths of northern Gaza and killed thousands of Palestinians. With information hard to come by, authorities have only given approximate counts of the number of hostages held in Gaza. Another 21 hostages — 19 Thais, one Filipino and one Russian-Israeli — have been released in separate negotiations since the truce began. Before the cease-fire, Hamas released four hostages, and the Israeli army rescued one.

Persons: Yehya Sinwar, Biden, Israel, ” Martin Indyk, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, —, Israel's, ”, Omar al, Dr, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, ___ Magdy Organizations: —, Health Ministry, Hamas, World Health Organization Locations: RAFAH, Gaza, Israel, Israeli, United States, U.S, Egypt, Qatar, Brussels, GAZA, Al, Aqsa, Cairo, Lidman, Jerusalem, israel

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — A truce between Israel and Hamas entered its fifth day on Tuesday, with the militant group promising to release more civilian hostages to delay the expected resumption of the war and Israel under growing pressure to spare Palestinian civilians when the fighting resumes. The sides agreed to extend their truce through Wednesday, with another two planned exchanges of militant-held hostages for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Hamas and other militants are still holding about 160 people, out of the 240 seized in their Oct. 7 assault into southern Israel that ignited the war. Most of the hostages freed so far have appeared to be physically well. The hostages freed from Gaza have mostly stayed out of the public eye, but details of their captivity have started to emerge.

Persons: Israel, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Elma Avraham, Munder, ”, Alaa Mansour, ___ Magdy Organizations: Hamas, State Department, Israel’s Channel, Health Ministry, Humanitarian Affairs Locations: TEL AVIV, Israel, Gaza, Qatar, Egypt, U.S, GAZA, Gaza City, “, Cairo, ___, israel

Israel has said it would extend the cease-fire by one day for every 10 additional hostages released. But Israel also says it remains committed to crushing Hamas' military capabilities and ending its 16-year rule over Gaza. Sixty-two hostages have been released, one was freed by Israeli forces, and two were found dead inside Gaza. In turn, Israel released 39 Palestinian prisoners. A fourth exchange is expected on Monday, for a total of 50 Israeli hostages and 150 Palestinian prisoners as agreed upon in the cease-fire deal.

Persons: Israel, —, Abigail Edan, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Netanyahu, ”, Elma Avraham, Merav Raviv, it's, Amani Taha, “, ___ Magdy Organizations: —, Hamas, Sunday, Soroka, Health Ministry Locations: TEL AVIV, Israel, Gaza, United States, Qatar, Egypt, Nations, Thailand, GAZA, Rafah, Cairo, ___, israel

The militants released 17 hostages, including 13 Israelis, while Israel freed 39 Palestinian prisoners. Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners. A BITTERSWEET MOMENT FOR HOSTAGE FAMILIESShortly before midnight, Hamas released the second group of hostages, 13 Israelis and four Thais. The Israeli hostages freed on Saturday included seven children and six women, Netanyahu’s office announced. A kibbutz spokesperson said all the released hostages either had a family member killed in the Oct. 7 rampage or a loved one still in captivity in Gaza.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Nurhan Awad, Israa Jaabis, Jaabis, ”, Fatah, Mahmoud Abbas, ___ Magdy, Tia Goldenberg Organizations: Hamas, Health Ministry, United Nations, Aid, Palestinian, Crescent, West Bank, Palestinian Prisoners ’ Club, Associated Press Locations: DEIR, Gaza, Israel, Qatar, Egypt, Tel Aviv, United States, Gaza City, Be’eri, Jerusalem, Palestine, Al, Cairo, israel

On the first day of the four-day cease-fire, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison. During the four days, Hamas is to release at least 50 Israeli hostages, and Israel 150 Palestinian prisoners. Israel has said the truce can be extended an extra day for every additional 10 hostages freed — something United States President Joe Biden said he hoped would come to pass. FIRST HOSTAGES FREEDAfter nightfall Friday, a line of ambulances emerged from Gaza through the Rafah Crossing into Egypt carrying the freed hostages. Netanyahu has also vowed to continue the war to destroy Hamas’ military capabilities, end its 16-year rule in Gaza and return all the hostages.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Israel, Joe Biden, Khan Yunis, Schneider, —, Yael Adar, ”, Tamir Adar, Kibbutz Nir Oz, Zichri, Keren Munder, Ruti, Benjamin Netanyahu, Abdulqader Khatib, Iyas, ” Iyas, Majed al, Ansari, Yoav Gallant, Netanyahu, ___ Organizations: Gaza, United Nations, Palestinian Red Crescent Society, West Bank, Medical, Israel’s, “, Palestinian Prisoners ’ Club, Foreign Ministry, U.S, Israeli, Health Ministry Locations: Gaza, Israel, Philippines, Rocketfire, Khan, Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Rafah, Egypt, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beitunia, Qatar, Bangkok, Magdy, Cairo, ___, israel

Biden vowed that he would not relent until all American hostages in Gaza were released. Biden had his own demand throughout the talks: Humanitarian assistance had to reach Gaza, regardless of a deal. Israel’s ground invasion plans were revised so fighting could be paused if a hostage deal came together. Talks resumed last Friday, and in another conversation with the Qatari emir, Biden told him it was the last shot at a hostage deal and he had to close it now. Officials also crafted a way to try to entice Hamas to release more hostages than the 50 already agreed to.

Persons: Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Brett McGurk, Joshua Geltzer, McGurk, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, Jake Sullivan, Bill Burns, David Barnea, Israel —, “, ”, Netanyahu, – Natalie, Judith Raanan –, Natalie’s, wouldn’t, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Israel, Al Thani, ” Netanyahu, — — Kim, Magdy, Frankel Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S ., White House, U.S, Israeli, White, National Security, CIA, Hamas, ., Israeli Defense Forces, Shifa Hospital, Qatari Locations: Qatar, United States, U.S, Egypt, Gaza, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Israel, Doha, Cairo, Nantucket , Massachusetts, Jerusalem

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli troops battled Palestinian militants in a dense, urban refugee camp on Tuesday as they expanded operations across northern Gaza, where residents have been without electricity, water or access to humanitarian aid for weeks. Footage released by the military in recent days shows soldiers and tanks operating in dense urban neighborhoods where nearly every building appears to be damaged or destroyed. Israeli forces cut off the north in their ground invasion late last month, though tens of thousands have since fled south through corridors announced by the military. As they have overflowed, people have been forced to sleep on the streets outside, with little shelter from winter rains that have hit the region in recent days. RISING TOLLMore than 12,700 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry in the West Bank.

Persons: Daniel Hagari, Marwan Abdallah, Ashraf al, Qidra, Ashraf, Al, Michael Ryan, Izzat, Ismail Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, Goren, Tal Chaimi, ” Netanyahu, ___ Magdy, Melanie Lidman Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Health, International Committee, Indonesia Hospital, Shifa, World Health Organization, Palestinian Health Ministry, West Bank, Associated Press Locations: DEIR, Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, Jabaliya, Israeli, Gaza's, Egypt, United States, Qatar, Shifa, Cairo, Jerusalem, israel

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — A United Nations team said Sunday that 291 patients were left at Gaza’s largest hospital after Israeli troops had others evacuate. Those left included 32 babies in extremely critical condition, trauma patients with severely infected wounds, and others with spinal injuries who are unable to move. The team was able to tour Shifa Hospital for an hour after about 2,500 displaced people, mobile patients and medical staff left the sprawling compound Saturday morning, said the World Health Organization, which led the mission. It said more teams will attempt to reach Shifa in coming days to try to the evacuate patients to southern Gaza, where hospitals are also overwhelmed. “We left at gunpoint,” Mahmoud Abu Auf told The Associated Press by phone after he and his family left the crowded hospital.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, ” Mahmoud Abu Auf, Ahmed Radwan, Yassin Sharif, ” Radwan, Khan Younis, …, Brett McGurk, Yoav Gallant, ”, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, —, ___ Magdy Organizations: United Nations, Shifa Hospital, World Health Organization, Shifa, Hamas, AP, WHO, Associated Press, “, White House, White, National Security, UNRWA, Defense, The Washington Post, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Israel Locations: Gaza, Gaza’s, Israel, gunpoint, ”, Shifa, United States, Persian, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Gaza City, The Washington, The Washington Post , U.S, Palestinian, Cairo, ___, israel

Israeli troops on Wednesday entered Gaza's largest hospital, searching for traces of Hamas inside and beneath the facility. Officials from Israel and Gaza presented different accounts of what was happening at Al Shifa Hospital. Hamas and Gaza health officials deny militants operate in Al Shifa — a hospital that employs some 1,500 people and has more than 500 beds, according to the Palestinian news agency. Throughout days of fighting in the surrounding streets, there has been no report of militants firing from inside Al Shifa. The AP could not independently verify the Israeli claims that the weapons were found inside the hospital.

Persons: Joe Biden, —, KHAN YOUNIS, Al Shifa —, Israel tightens, Munir al, Boursh, Al Shifa, Jonathan Conricus, Jordan, Biden, Xi Jinping Organizations: Wednesday, Al Shifa Hospital, Service, Al Shifa, Hamas, Palestinian Health Ministry, Gaza's Health Ministry, Associated Press, Troops, UN, West, West Bank's Palestinian Authority, UN Security, Pacific Economic Cooperative, Health Ministry Locations: Gaza's, Israel, Gaza, Gaza City, Al Shifa, Hamas, Al, Ramallah, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, West Bank's, Asia, California, United States

The humanitarian office, known as OCHA, says only one hospital in the north is capable of receiving patients. Israel carries out frequent airstrikes from north to south, hitting what it says are militant targets but often killing women and children. With Israeli forces fighting Palestinian militants in the center of Gaza City, the territory's main city, both sides have seized on the plight of hospitals. Both Hamas and Shifa Hospital staff deny the Israeli allegations. Palestinian militants.

Persons: ”, Daniel Hagari, Israel, ___ Magdy, Amy Teibel Organizations: Gaza’s, Hamas, Shifa Hospital, Health Ministry, International Committee, ., Health, Associated Press Locations: DEIR, Gaza, Israel, Gaza City, Shifa, Al, Quds, Israeli, The U.S, Palestinian, Cairo, Jerusalem, israel

The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza disputed that, and said the fuel would have provided less than an hour of electricity. Political Cartoons View All 1240 ImagesFor Palestinians, Shifa evokes the suffering of civilians. Thousands of people displaced by airstrikes that have destroyed entire city blocks have sought shelter in its darkened corridors. A U.N. health official said many displaced families and patients with moderate injuries fled Shifa as Israeli forces encircled the hospital over the weekend. Palestinian militants are holding nearly 240 hostages seized in the raid, including men, women, children and older adults.

Persons: Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Shifa, Mohammed Zaqout, Melanie Ward, Christos Christou, ___ Magdy Organizations: Hamas, Health Ministry, Health Organization, Aid, CBS, Health Locations: DEIR, Gaza, Gaza's, Palestinian, Israel, Shifa, U.K, U.S, Lebanon, Cairo, ___, israel

HEAVY FIGHTING NEAR SHIFA HOSPITALPolitical Cartoons View All 1240 ImagesIn Gaza City, residents reported heavy airstrikes and shelling overnight, including in the area around Shifa Hospital. Israel, without providing evidence, has accused Hamas of concealing a command post inside and under the hospital compound, allegations denied by Hamas and hospital staff. “We spent the night in panic waiting for their arrival,” said Ahmed al-Boursh, a resident taking shelter in the hospital. Israel’s military confirmed clashes outside the hospital, but Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesman, denied Shifa was under siege. Netanyahu said Gaza would be demilitarized and that Israel would retain security control, with the ability to enter Gaza freely to hunt down militants.

Persons: KHAN YOUNIS, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, “, ”, Ahmed al, Mohammed Abu Selmia, Daniel Hagari, Shifa, Robert Mardini, Crescent, NETANYAHU, Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Ebrahim Raisi, ___ Magdy Organizations: Israel, Hamas, Health Ministry, World Health Organization, International Committee, Red Cross, Palestinian, Palestinian Authority, West Bank Locations: Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, United States, Saudi Arabia, London, SHIFA, Shifa, “, al, Quds, Hamas, U.S, Iran, Egypt, Rafah, Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Netanyahu's, Lebanon, Cairo, ___, israel

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