Israel strikes ambulance in Gaza City, many reported killed
The Hindu
Israel strikes ambulance in Gaza, UN "horrified" by attack. UN chief "horrified" by reported attack on ambulance convoy outside Al Shifa hospital; images of bodies strewn on street outside hospital "harrowing." Israel says it hit ambulance "used by Hamas terrorist cell," Hamas denies.
Israel struck an ambulance in Gaza City on Friday that it said was carrying militants, but which health authorities in the Hamas-controlled enclave said was evacuating wounded people from the besieged north to the south of the territory.
Ashraf al-Qidra, spokesperson for the health ministry in Gaza, said the ambulance was part of a convoy that Israel targeted leaving al-Shifa Hospital, adding that "a big number" were killed and wounded but without giving figures.
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Mr. Qidra said Israel had targeted the convoy of ambulances in more than one location, including at al-Shifa Hospital gate and at Ansar Square a kilometer (0.6 miles) away.
The head of the United Nations said he was “horrified” by the strike. “I am horrified by the reported attack in Gaza on an ambulance convoy outside Al Shifa hospital. The images of bodies strewn on the street outside the hospital are harrowing,” Antonio Guterres said in a statement.
Israel's military said it had identified and hit an ambulance "being used by a Hamas terrorist cell" in the battle zone.
It said a number of Hamas fighters had been killed in the strike and accused the group of transferring both militants and weapons in ambulances.