A senior military official said that Israeli forces found weapons and “terrorist infrastructure” during an ongoing raid inside Al-Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip. Although there was no fighting inside the hospital compound after the soldiers arrived during the night, there was no contact with medical staff or patients.
He added that they were in a different section of the site.
“IDF soldiers have already found weapons and other terrorist infrastructure. In the past hour, we have seen concrete evidence that Hamas terrorists have used Al-Shifa Hospital as a terrorist headquarters,” the official said, without specifying which part of the hospital was being searched.
He added that evidence would be presented later, adding, “This is a very precise and targeted process.” Our forces are present in a specific area of the huge Al-Shifa Hospital complex.”
It is unclear how long the raid will last.
He added: “Our soldiers are making slow and deliberate progress based on our intelligence information.”
The official said that four terrorists were killed in a gun battle outside Shifa when Israeli soldiers tried to enter the compound. He added that the soldiers interrogated the individuals they found in the area they were searching.
He added: “I have an understanding that one of them is Hamas.”
Earlier, Israel said that Hamas used Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza, as a cover for its operations. Hamas and hospital workers denied this allegation.
The United Nations and the Red Cross expressed their concern after Israeli forces raided the hospital.
“I am horrified by reports of military raids on Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza,” said UN Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Griffiths, adding that “protecting newborns, the sick, medical staff and all civilians must override all other concerns. Hospitals do not.” Battlefields.”
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