IDF: ‘Over 85% of major medical facilities in Gaza used by Hamas’

The Israeli army said it conducted a military operation in a hospital in southern Gaza on Thursday as it suspected Hamas were hiding behind injured civilians inside the facility.

“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 too, the IDF is conducting a precise and limited operation inside Nasser hospital,” IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said.

Hagarai also said that the army has “credible intelligence from a number of sources, including from released hostages,” indicating that Hamas held hostages at the hospital and that there “may be bodies of our hostages in the Nasser hospital facility.”

Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry confirmed that soldiers were operation inside the hospital, while local media reported that patients were ordered to evacuate.

BBC journalist Rushdi Abualouf reported that he received a message from a nurse at the hospital saying: “Soldiers arrived at the second floor of the emergency called on all those on the upper floors, including doctors and nurses, to come down”

Israel, however, said it told hospital staff that there is no obligation for patients or staff to evacuate the hospital.

“However, we have been urging other Gazans, in Arabic, on the phone and via loudspeakers, to move away from the danger that Hamas puts them in — via a humanitarian corridor we opened for this purpose,” Hagari said.

The IDF also said over 85% of major medical facilities in Gaza have been used by Hamas for terror operations, according to “intelligence assessments and information gathered on the ground”

The US and EU have both condemned Hamas for its use of hospitals, while numerous journalists and media over the years have documented Hamas’ presence at hospitals.

Israel, on the other hand, has been harshly criticised for its military operations in hospitals, with human rights organisations accusing Israel of possible war crimes.

Israel has argued that the hospitals are not protected under international law as it’s forbidden to use hospitals for military purposes.