Doctors and medical officials in Gaza say Israeli snipers shot dead several people as they tried to leave the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza in recent days.
A trauma surgeon at the hospital said he was an eyewitness to the shootings and said at least two people were killed by snipers on Tuesday, and more were wounded.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ordered the evacuation of hospital staff and patients inside the medical complex and said they had “opened a safe route” for civilians to leave.
But at least eight people trying to escape along the route were shot on Tuesday, said the surgeon, who asked not to be identified for security reasons.
In a series of voice notes, the surgeon said the hospital's medical teams have been under intense bombardment for at least three days. His colleague shared his testimony with CNN.
Among the wounded, the surgeon said, was a 16-year-old boy shot with four bullets at the hospital door.
“Tanks and snipers are surrounding the hospital from all directions,” the surgeon said in a voicemail early Wednesday. “They threatened to bomb the hospital within half an hour.”
The Nasser Medical Complex is the largest remaining operating medical center in Gaza.
Contacted for comment on Wednesday evening, the IDF confirmed to CNN that Israeli troops are operating in the Nasser Medical Complex area and said it would contact CNN if anything changes, but did not directly respond to the allegations.
Israel has repeatedly said its military forces do not attack civilians.
