Israeli forces have continued their operations against Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) militants entrenched in Gaza City's Shifa Hospital and in Khan Yunis, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported on Wednesday morning.
According to the IDF, soldiers have eliminated militants and discovered terrorist infrastructure and weaponry within the hospital compound. Since their entry on March 18, Israel has neutralised over 180 militants and apprehended 800 terror suspects, with around 500 confirmed as members of Hamas or PIJ.
The return to Shifa Hospital, Gaza's largest medical facility, was prompted by intelligence indicating the presence of senior Hamas figures orchestrating attacks from within. On Tuesday, the IDF released footage of a PIJ operative admitting to using hospitals as safe havens for planning and executing attacks.
The operative, Nabeel Rajab Abed Shteiwi, confessed to being involved in PIJ's missile production and residing in Shifa for three months. He disclosed that Hamas and PIJ operatives operate throughout the hospital complex, with the "Specialist Building" serving as a focal point.
In Khan Yunis's Al Amal neighbourhood, Israeli soldiers, in collaboration with the Air Force, neutralised several militants and seized weapons during targeted operations against terror infrastructure.
The seized weapons included launchers, AK-47 rifles, and grenades. Israeli airstrikes targeted armed Hamas militants, tunnel shafts, military compounds, and other infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. During one strike, a militant was detected adjacent to IDF troops and was subsequently eliminated by aircraft.
The recent escalation in violence followed Hamas attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7, resulting in casualties and hostage situations. Israeli forces have been engaged in efforts to neutralise the threat posed by Hamas and PIJ militants, with ongoing operations aimed at dismantling their infrastructure and preventing further attacks on Israeli civilians.
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