Israel storms Gaza hospital after US confirms it is hiding secret Hamas underground command centre
The hospital has been stormed in a 'targeted operation'
Reuters
Israeli troops have stormed Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital in a “targeted operation” against Hamas to uproot terrorists they believe are hiding underground.
US intelligence has said that they have evidence that Hamas is using the hospital to run its military operations and is using patients as human shields.
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Hamas has denied the allegations, saying they “strongly condemn” the claims.
US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that Hamas are operating “a command-and-control node from Al-Shifa in Gaza City”.
IDF troops stormed the building this morning
Reuters
“They have stored weapons there and they're prepared to respond to an Israeli military operation against that facility,” he added, citing US intelligence sources.
Hamas have said that the US have given Israel a “green light” to target the hospital.
Prior to the attack, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it would evacuate babies from the hospital which is Gaza’s largest.
IDF troops have surrounded the hospital in recent days, before storming the building in the early hours of this morning.
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IDFThe IDF provided an update on the situation this morning: “We can confirm that incubators, baby food and medical supplies brought by IDF tanks from Israel have successfully reached the Shifa hospital.
“Our medical teams and Arabic speaking soldiers are on the ground to ensure that these supplies reach those in need.”
The IDF have shared photos of boxes of aid they have claimed they have delivered.
Prior to this, Mohammed Zaqout, the director of hospitals in Gaza, said that IDF tanks had entered the medical compound and that soldiers had infiltrated the buildings.
He said they broke into emergency and surgery departments, scaring terrified patients.
The IDF shared this photo of the supplies they claimed to have delivered
IDF
Al Shifa hospital is Gaza’s largest
Reuters
“The occupation forces stormed the buildings,” Zaqout said.
“They are screaming. It's a very terrifying situation... we can do nothing for the patients but pray.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that al Shifa is "nearly a cemetery" as the Hamas-led health ministry said people trapped inside were preparing to bury at least 100 bodies.
Al Shifa hospital is Gaza’s largest, occupying 22 acres of land.
Since the conflict broke out on October 7, the hospital has also become a refugee camp where people have sought shelter from Israeli strikes.