The IDF has announced a special forces operation inside Nasser Hospital, the largest medical facility currently operational in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis. According to Army Chief Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the operation was launched based on Israeli intelligence indicating that Hamas had been using the hospital to conceal operatives and possibly the bodies of hostages taken during an attack on October 7.
Hagari highlighted that this move is part of a broader strategy by the IDF to conduct precise rescue operations in areas where hostages may be held. Israeli intelligence, reportedly corroborated by sources including released hostages, suggests a systemic use of hospitals by Hamas for terror operations, with over 85% of major medical facilities in Gaza implicated.
The IDF emphasizes the operation’s limited scope, designed to minimize civilian harm and maintain the hospital’s operational capacity. The IDF has stated that Special Operations Forces are executing the raid. Earlier this week, Israeli Special Forces units executed the successful hostage release of two hostages in Rafah; these units reportedly included personnel from Shin Bet special operations unit, the Israeli police counterterrorism unit and Shayetet 13.
In the days leading up to the operation, the IDF engaged in discussions with hospital staff, assuring them of their intent to preserve the hospital’s critical medical functions. However, on the ground, chaotic scenes have unfolded within the hospital premises, with video footage showing the impact of the operation on patients and medical staff. Dr. Khaled al-Serr, a surgeon at Nasser Hospital, reported dire conditions, with the facility under significant strain from the military activities. The IDF’s strategy includes consolidating patients into a single building to facilitate the operation while ensuring the safety of the remaining medical personnel and patients.
The raid has sparked international concern, with WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressing alarm over the siege’s impact on Gaza’s healthcare backbone. The IDF has reportedly captured several suspects since the operation commenced.
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