IDF: No order given to evacuate Shifa, safe route opened for any who wish to leave

The Israel Defense Forces denies it demanded that Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital evacuate within an hour, saying it only responded to requests by the medical center’s director who asked for a safe route out for those who wish to leave.

“This morning, the IDF acceded to the request of the director of Shifa Hospital to enable additional Gazans who were in the hospital, and would like to evacuate, to do so via the secure route,” the IDF says in a statement.

“At no point did the IDF order the evacuation of patients or medical teams and in fact proposed that any request for medical evacuation will be facilitated by the IDF,” it says.

“Medical personnel will remain in the hospital to support patients who are unable to evacuate,” the IDF adds.

The IDF also says that it provided additional food, water and humanitarian aid to Shifa overnight.