• By Abhirupa Kundu
  • Wed, 15 Nov 2023 02:59 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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The Israeli Military on Wednesday launched its raid operations in Gaza's biggest hospital, Al Shifa, which it claimed to be a "targetted operation" against Hamas militants. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has accused the Hamas operatives are using the hospital which currently is sheltering thousands of babies and the injured as their commanding centre.

Dr. Munir al-Bursh, director-general of the Gaza health ministry, told Al Jazeera television that Israeli forces had raided the western side of the medical complex. "There are big explosions and dust entered the areas where we are. We believe an explosion occurred inside the hospital," Bursh said.

Hamas has denied Israel's allegations that that the militant outfit has a command centre underneath Al Shifa and uses the hospital and tunnels beneath it to conceal military operations and to hold hostages.

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In a statement, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said: "Based on intelligence information and an operational necessity, IDF forces are carrying out a precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area in the Shifa hospital."

The military added: "The IDF forces include medical teams and Arabic speakers, who have undergone specified training to prepare for this complex and sensitive environment, with the intent that no harm is caused to the civilians."

Israeli army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner told CNN the hospital and compound were for Hamas "a central hub of their operations, perhaps even the beating heart and maybe even a centre of gravity."

As far back as 2009, the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) reported during the Gaza war of that year that Hamas operatives were hiding in the hospital, and that the basement had become Hamas's headquarters.

In addition to being used to hide Hamas leaders and hostages, the terror group is known to have launched rockets, tortured suspected collaborators and hoarded a half-million liters of fuel in the hospital compound.

(With agency inputs)

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