Israeli special forces storm Gaza hospital in hunt for hostages
Israeli special forces have stormed the main hospital in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Yunis amid claims that Hamas has held hostages there and their bodies may remain inside.
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that special forces were operating inside the Nasser Hospital, saying “a number of suspects have been detained”.
Patients and medical staff are being evacuated from the hospital, where many displaced civilians have fled, after one patient was killed and six wounded in strikes this morning, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health authority.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the IDF’s chief spokesman, said Israeli special forces were conducting a “precise and limited operation”.
He said: “We have credible intelligence from a number of including from released hostages indicating that Hamas sources held hostages at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, and that there may be bodies of our hostages in the Nasser Hospital facility.”
A spokesperson for Hamas called the Israeli comments “lies”.
The IDF added: “On Tuesday, the IDF officially contacted the Director of the Nasser Medical Centre, calling for the immediate cessation of all Hamas terrorist activity from within the hospital and the immediate evacuation of all Hamas terrorists from within. The operational activity is continuing.”
The UN humanitarian office said on Wednesday that Nasser Hospital was besieged by Israeli forces with allegations of sniper fire at the facility.
Under international humanitarian law, hospitals and medical patients should be protected.
Israel has accused Hamas of using hospitals, ambulances, mosques, schools and other civilian buildings throughout Gaza as places to shield fighters, store weapons and equipment and hold hostages.
It has previously released video footage appearing to show Hamas tunnels beneath al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City as well as weapons apparently discovered at the site, which Israel claimed served as a command post for the group. Hamas has denied this.
Rear Admiral Hagari added in a statement today that according to intelligence assessments: “Over 85 per cent of major medial facilities have been used by Hamas for terror operations because Hamas terrorists are likely hiding behind injured civilians inside Nasser Hospital right now, and appear to have used the hospital to hide our hostages there.”
Ashraf al-Qidra, Gaza’s Health Ministry spokesman, said Israel had launched a “massive incursion” on Nasser Hospital with heavy shooting that wounded many.
He said the military had ordered medics to move all patients into an older building that was not properly equipped for treatment.
The raid comes as thousands of displaced civilians in the southern border city of Rafah brace for what Israel has said is an upcoming offensive to root out remaining Hamas fighters.
The war began on 7 October when Hamas fighters attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages.
