IDF and Hamas Clash after Israel Seizes Vital Hospital

Intense fighting erupts between IDF and Hamas following Israel’s seizure of a crucial hospital. Israeli forces report eliminating 20 militants at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City during a dawn operation.
Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City remains a site of intense conflict, as Israeli troops engage in fierce battles with Hamas militants. The hospital, strategically located, has witnessed multiple airstrikes and violent clashes, raising concerns for the safety of the nearby civilians.
Israeli military officials have stated that their troops are conducting precise operations within Shifa hospital to counter terrorism. They claim to have successfully neutralized 20 Hamas militants, including Faiq Mabhouh, who was identified as the head of Hamas’s internal security operations. The raid resulted in the detention of at least 80 individuals by Israeli forces, with one soldier losing their life.
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According to Israeli officials, the raid was based on intelligence indicating that senior Hamas terrorists were using the hospital as a command center for launching attacks.
In a separate development, Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu had their first phone conversation since mid-February. The discussion between the US president and Israel’s prime minister focused on the situation in Rafah and efforts to increase aid to Gaza.
Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s commitment to achieving its war objectives, which include eliminating Hamas, securing the release of all hostages, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel. He also highlighted the importance of providing necessary humanitarian aid to accomplish these goals.
Thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza have been forced to seek refuge at Shifa, where they are living in makeshift tents. The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed serious concern about the ongoing fighting, stating that it is putting health workers, patients, and civilians at risk.
In addition, a reporter from Al Jazeera, along with other journalists, was beaten and arrested during the conflict. Witnesses have described the start of the Israeli operation in the al-Rimal area of Gaza City, where the hospital is located. Tanks and explosions were heard, causing panic among the residents.
Hamas has accused the Israeli military of directly targeting the hospital buildings without considering the well-being of patients, medical staff, or displaced individuals seeking shelter there. The health ministry in Gaza reported that the raid resulted in a fire at the hospital’s entrance, leading to cases of asphyxiation among women and children.
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It is important to note that the claims made by both the health ministry officials and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have not been independently verified.
During the morning, the IDF dropped leaflets and used social media to tell civilians to leave their homes immediately and travel along Gaza’s coastal road to al-Muwasi, an area 18 miles (30km) south designated as a “humanitarian island” by Israel.
Limited transportation options are available in Gaza, leaving many residents of Gaza City, especially children and the elderly, weakened after months of insufficient food. It remains uncertain how many individuals will be able to follow Israeli instructions, even if safe passage is granted amidst the ongoing conflict.
An Israeli attack on Shifa, Gaza’s largest hospital, in November sparked international outrage, highlighting the challenges faced by Israel in Gaza as they strive to achieve their goal of “crushing Hamas.”
Since February, the IDF has re-engaged in combat in areas previously believed to be cleared of Hamas fighters after intense battles last year. Despite reports of few Israeli troops in Gaza City, residents have noted their presence on the outskirts and at strategic intersections.
Israeli forces have targeted several hospitals in Gaza as part of a military operation following Hamas’ surprise incursion into southern Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals, mostly civilians, and the capture of around 250 others.
READ: Israeli Military Releases CCTV Footage Alleging Hostages Taken to Gaza Hospital; Hamas Denies Claims
While the intensity of the offensive has slightly decreased in recent weeks, the death toll continues to climb. According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israel’s campaign against Hamas has claimed the lives of at least 31,645 individuals, predominantly women and children.
Israel has repeatedly alleged that Hamas is using civilians as human shields by conducting military operations from hospitals and other medical centers. However, Hamas denies these accusations.
Following the raid on Shifa in November, the Israeli military claimed to have discovered weapons and military equipment concealed there, along with a 55-meter tunnel in the basement. The IDF released footage that it claimed proved the presence of hostages, but Hamas refuted these allegations.
The evidence presented by the IDF did not seem to support the claims made prior to the raid that Hamas had established a well-equipped command center in interconnected bunkers beneath the hospital. However, a long reinforced tunnel running deep beneath the complex was indeed identified.
On Monday, the IDF announced that it had found “funds intended for distribution to Hamas terrorist operatives, in addition to numerous weapons… in the hospital.”
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Aid agencies have been working tirelessly to restore services at Shifa for several weeks. However, they have faced challenges in reaching northern Gaza to deliver equipment and supplies. Many humanitarian organizations have accused Israel of deliberately delaying their deliveries through arbitrary checks, opaque decision-making, and bureaucratic hurdles. Israeli officials vehemently deny these allegations.
This recent raid occurs amidst hopes for a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, with new rounds of talks expected to commence in the coming days.