In a troubling account, an Israeli paramedic has reported that Hamas is actively shooting at Gazan civilians attempting to evacuate from Jabaliya amid a renewed offensive by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Cpl. Shai Gilboa, serving in the IDF’s 9th Battalion, provided medical assistance to a Palestinian woman who was injured in the face by gunfire while trying to reach a designated safe zone.
During her interview with Channel 12, Gilboa detailed the ongoing chaos, claiming that Hamas is preventing civilians from heeding Israeli evacuation orders in the area. “Our battalion went into action to exert as much military pressure as possible on Hamas terrorists, who held the civilian population in the area and forbade them from evacuating,” she said.
Gilboa described how her team treated wounded civilians on the scene, primarily focusing on stopping bleeding before directing them to local medical facilities for further care. While the battalion’s primary mission is to combat Hamas, Gilboa emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safety of civilians amidst the conflict.
Interactions between Israeli troops and Palestinians in war-torn areas are often limited due to language barriers. However, Gilboa noted that many civilians have expressed support for the IDF, with some even cursing Hamas in front of them. “They smile at us, they wave goodbye at us,” she stated, highlighting a complex dynamic amid the violence.
Despite the IDF’s calls for civilian evacuations, Hamas has instructed residents to ignore these orders, claiming that the Israeli military is conducting ongoing bombings in areas deemed safe. Reports of Hamas harming those attempting to flee have surfaced previously, with the IDF accusing the group of using civilians as human shields during the conflict.
The situation remains dire, with estimates indicating that tens of thousands of Palestinians have stayed in northern Gaza throughout the prolonged fighting, including many believed to be Hamas operatives. The IDF is engaged in a ground offensive against Hamas, which escalated on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, leading to significant casualties and hostages taken.
As the conflict continues, the humanitarian toll is severe, with the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry reporting over 42,000 deaths, though this figure cannot be independently verified. The IDF claims to have eliminated around 17,000 combatants since August, while Israeli casualties have reached 357 in the ongoing military operations.