Palestinians say Israeli troops steadily advancing, in view of Shifa Hospital

Palestinians say Israeli troops were within view of Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest. Israel says Hamas’s main command center is located underneath the hospital.

Thousands of civilians had been sheltering in the Shifa compound in recent weeks, but many fled Friday as Israeli troops closed in and Israel expanded access to safe evacuation routes to the south.

Abdallah Nasser, who lives near Shifa, tells AP by phone that the Israeli military was advancing deep into the city from its southern and northern flanks.

“They are facing stiff resistance, but they are advancing,” he says.

Mohammed al-Masri, one of many still sheltering at the hospital, says that from a higher floor, he could see Israeli troops approaching from the west. “They are here,” he said. “They are visible.”

Live footage of the area appeared to show heavy fighting in the vicinity of the hospital with the constant sounds of gunfire and explosions.