IDF launches ‘targeted operation’ in Gaza’s Shifa Hospital to search for senior Hamas terrorists

The Israeli army on Monday morning launched a targeted operation searching for senior Hamas officials in the area of Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital, Israel Defense Forces announced.

Israeli forces established control of the hospital compound after several hours and began to arrest suspects in the hospital and various buildings surrounding it. So far, 80 suspects have been arrested, several of whom are already confirmed to be Hamas terrorists.

The IDF said its troops were fired upon from within the hospital as they worked to encircle the compound. IDF soldiers returned fire, killing and wounding several terrorists. One IDF soldier was lightly injured in the fire exchange and received medical treatment.

Shifa Hospital lies in Gaza City, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip where large-scale IDF operations ended months ago. It is so far unknown how senior Hamas officials managed to return to the hospital that had already been taken over and cleared by IDF troops last November.

The IDF and the Shin Bet said the targeted operation was launched after intelligence indicated the presence of terrorists in the hospital.

In addition, army intelligence suggested the terrorists were using the hospital’s infrastructure – but not the tunnels under the hospital, which have been destroyed – to carry out acts of terror.

The army emphasized that no new information regarding the presence of Israeli hostages in the area had been received.

The large operation, in an area that was thought to be pacified during the sensitive period of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, was planned for several days, the IDF said in a statement.

Israeli soldiers operating in the area were briefed in advance to emphasize the importance “of preventing harm to civilians, patients, medical teams and medical equipment.” The IDF provided food, water and other supplies to the patients and civilians near the operation.

During the raid, the Israeli military guaranteed the Al-Shif Hospital was functioning and the army brought Arabic speakers to communicate with patients and civilians, while IDF medical teams were on standby to offer help where needed.

#عاجل 🔴 نداء الى كل المتواجدين والنازحين في حي الرمال وفي مستشفي الشفاء ومحيطه:
من اجل الحفاظ على أمنكم - عليكم اخلاء المنطقة بشكل فوري غرباً ومن ثم عبر شارع الرشيد (البحر) جنوباً إلى المنطقة الإنسانية في المواصي pic.twitter.com/X95ASt8zJP

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) March 18, 2024

There was no need for patients and medical teams to evacuate the hospital, however, the IDF’s Arabic Spokesman Lt.-Col. Avichay Adraee called on nearby civilians and those in the adjacent Rimal neighborhood to evacuate to the south via a humanitarian corridor.

Later on Monday, the IDF published a recorded phone call between the IDF’s head of the Coordination and Liaison Directorate for Gaza and the director-general of the Hamas-led Health Ministry in Gaza, calling to end the terror activity in Gaza’s hospitals.

“We see that the terrorist organization Hamas continues its military activity inside the hospitals. We are ready to provide any monetary assistance that may be required. Our request is simple, an immediate cessation of all terrorist activity in the hospitals,” the Israeli official said.

“We know that senior Hamas terrorists have regrouped inside the hospital and are using it to command attacks against Israel,” IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari stated on Monday.

“We seek no harm to the civilians Hamas is hiding behind,” he said. “We call upon all Hamas terrorists hiding in [the] hospital, surrender immediately. Medical facilities should never be exploited for terror. Hamas must be held accountable.”