On the eve of the Israeli military raid last Monday on Al-Shifa Hospital, an eyewitness spotted hundreds of Hamas and Islamic Jihad members inside the hospital.
The eyewitness, who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, estimated about 400 to 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad members and their families arrived at the hospital in mid-March. Some of them appeared to be members of Hamas' political branch, while others were armed militants.
The eyewitness said some of the militants were carrying guns inside the hospital.
CNN has asked the Gaza Health Ministry for comment.
The Israeli military launched a major operation at Al-Shifa last Monday, alleging that Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants had embedded themselves within the hospital.
As the military operation enters its second week, the Israeli military says it has detained “approximately 500” Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants in and around the hospital and killed about 170 militants.
Thousands of civilians were also sheltering inside the medical complex at the time of the raid and eyewitnesses said medical personnel and other civilians were also detained by Israeli troops.
Hundreds of those sheltering were stranded inside the hospital for days — with little food or water — and warned by the Israeli military that they would be shot if they exited the hospital without first receiving instructions to evacuate.