Palestinians who fled the ongoing Israeli siege of al-Shifa Hospital have described what happened as Israeli tanks and armored bulldozers surrounded the hospital.

Jameel al-Ayoubi, who was one of thousands of Palestinians sheltering at the hospital, saw Israeli tanks and armored bulldozers drive over at least four bodies in the hospital courtyard, The Associated Press news agency reports. Ambulances were also crushed, he says.

Kareem Ayman Hathat, who lived in a five-story building about 100 metres (328 feet) from the hospital, told AP he hid in his kitchen for days waiting as explosions shook the building.

“From time to time, the tank would fire a shell,” he said. “It was to terrorize us.”

Witnesses shared with Al Jazeera terrifying scenes at the besieged hospital, including Israeli soldiers executing a group of eight people.