Israeli Military Conducts “High-Precision” Operation at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza
The Israeli military announced on Monday that it was carrying out a “high-precision” operation at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, claiming that senior Hamas officials had regrouped at the medical facility, which has been a focal point of the ongoing conflict.
In a video address posted to social media in the early hours of Monday morning, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military’s chief spokesman, stated that the military was conducting a raid in “limited areas” of the hospital complex in northern Gaza.
According to the Israeli military, Hamas fighters fired at its soldiers from within the complex during the operation, prompting the soldiers to return fire. The Health Ministry in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, alleged that Israeli forces had fired missiles at the complex and shot into surgery rooms. However, these claims could not be independently verified.
The Israeli military later confirmed that a senior Hamas official, identified as Faiq Mabhouh, had been killed during the operation. Mabhouh was described as the head of operations for the internal security forces of the Hamas government in Gaza. Hamas did not immediately confirm his death or role in the organization.
Tragically, one Israeli soldier was also killed in the fighting at Al-Shifa. The hospital and its surrounding area house thousands of patients, medical workers, and displaced civilians. The health ministry reported that a number of people were killed and wounded in the raid, with a fire breaking out at the gate of the complex, causing further chaos and difficulties in reaching the injured.
As the raid continued into the day, Alaa Abu al-Kaas, who was at the hospital with her father, described the fear and terror gripping those inside the facility. She recounted hearing shots and tanks in the early hours of the morning before Israeli soldiers instructed people to stay inside and close the windows. Al-Kaas stated that people were told they would be moved to a different area in southern Gaza, although the details of the evacuation remained unclear.
The Israeli military has claimed that the hospital complex was being used as a secret Hamas military command center, citing it as an example of civilian facilities exploited by Hamas for military purposes. However, Hamas has denied these allegations, and previous investigations have shown conflicting evidence regarding the military use of the hospital.
Despite the ongoing conflict and casualties, the Israeli military emphasized that there would be no obligation for staff and patients to evacuate, but arrangements would be made for civilians to leave the hospital safely.
The situation at Al-Shifa Hospital underscores the complexities and challenges of the conflict in Gaza, with both sides presenting conflicting narratives and justifications for their actions. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely as efforts to de-escalate the violence and protect civilians remain a top priority.
