Israel renewed its operation at Gaza’s largest hospital on Thursday, targeting an alleged Hamas command center nestled among patients, doctors and displaced people.
“Tonight we conducted a targeted operation at Shifa Hospital,” said Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, the head of Israeli military operations in Gaza. “We continue to move forward.”
Gaza’s Hamas-controlled Health Ministry said Thursday that Israeli bulldozers had destroyed “parts of the southern entrance” of the hospital.
Both Israel and its main ally the United States believe Hamas has a command center beneath the al-Shifa complex, which has become a flashpoint in the war.
The Palestinian militant group and the hospital’s directors have denied the accusation.
Before Israel sent troops to the hospital complex for the first time on Wednesday, UN agencies estimated that 2,300 patients, staff and displaced civilians were taking refuge in Al-Shifa.
The Israeli army claimed an initial raid discovered military equipment, weapons and what spokesman Daniel Hagari described as “an operational headquarters with communications equipment.”
