The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) fired tanks and raided the biggest working hospital in the Gaza Strip, international media reports said. One person lost his life while eight others were injured in the offensive that forced displaced civilians who had sought refuge in the Nasser hospital to scatter, the reports added.
According to a Gaza health ministry spokesperson, the lives of several lives were endangered by the operation as doctors were forced to abandon patients even in intensive care units.
Located at the heart of Gaza's Khan Younis town, the Nasser hospital compound was targeted by Israeli tanks overnight, The Guardian reported quoting health staffers. About an after the tank offensive, IDF personnel stormed the hospital and forced patients, hospital employees and homeless civilians out, the eyewitnesses reportedly told the British media.
Earlier on Wednesday, it was alleged that IDF snipers were positioned to take down targets in the hospital.
Meanwhile, the IDF confirmed that its personnel launched an operation targeting Nasser Hospital. Tel Aviv called the "precise and limited" offensive based on a solid intelligence report that the hospital was used to house Israeli hostages by Hamas. IDF spokesperson reportedly said that multiple suspects were apprehended from the hospital following the raid. Also on the agenda was to ensure that Nasser Hospital could take care of injured civilians sans Hamas obstructions, IDF said.
The raid was no surprise strike and the hospital staffers were repeatedly warned of the incoming assault, as an Israeli source was quoted as telling The Guardian. However, there was no obligation to evacuate.
At least 1,200 Israelis were killed and around 250 were taken hostage in a raid by Hamas militants on southern Israel on Oct. 7, according to Israeli figures. The air and ground offensive that Israel launched in response has so far killed 28,663 Palestinians in Gaza, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run territory.
