By Muslim Mirror Desk
The Al-Shifa Hospital Massacre, also known as the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory bombing, occurred on August 20, 1998, during Operation Infinite Reach, a military operation conducted by the United States in response to the 1998 United States embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya by Al-Qaeda. The bombing targeted the Al-Shifa pharmaceutical factory in Khartoum, Sudan.
Gaza : The Israeli army destroys the buildings of the Shifa hospital in western #Gaza. Around 300 martyrs were found in #ShifaHospital and its vicinity after the withdrawal of the occupation forces. pic.twitter.com/PPFqgXRkXI
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The factory was one of Sudan’s major pharmaceutical plants, producing medicines primarily for domestic use. The United States government claimed that the factory was involved in the production of chemical weapons for terrorist organizations, particularly nerve gas. However, this claim was heavily disputed by the Sudanese government and many international observers.
The bombing resulted in extensive damage to the factory and nearby structures, including the Al-Shifa Hospital, which was located adjacent to the factory. Reports indicate that the hospital suffered significant collateral damage, with parts of the building destroyed and medical equipment rendered unusable. The destruction of the hospital severely impacted the local population’s access to healthcare, particularly during a time of heightened tension and instability.
Eyewitnesses described horrific scenes of chaos and destruction in the aftermath of the bombing. Patients were reportedly trapped under rubble, medical staff scrambled to treat the wounded amid the chaos, and the community struggled to comprehend the scale of the devastation. The targeting of a civilian facility, especially one providing essential medical services, raised widespread condemnation and allegations of war crimes.
The international community reacted with shock and outrage to the bombing, with many countries and humanitarian organizations calling for an independent investigation into the incident. However, the United States government maintained its position that the bombing was justified as a preemptive strike against terrorism. The lack of conclusive evidence linking the factory to chemical weapons production further fueled skepticism and criticism of the US government’s actions.
Footage shows burned buildings at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, two weeks after it came under siege by Israeli troops.
The Hamas-run health ministry and witnesses who spoke to the BBC said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have pulled out of the territory’s biggest hospital.
The raid happened after Israel said it had intelligence indicating Hamas was using the hospital as a base to launch attacks.
Hamas has denied using medical sites to carry out military operations.
( With Agencies Inputs )