Gaza war
Israeli troops storm hospital in Khan Yunis
Israeli soldiers in Khan Yunis (archive photo). photo
© Ohad Zwigenberg/AP
The Israeli army said the operation with special forces had been prepared for a long time. Bodies of hostages are suspected to be on the premises of the clinic.
According to the military, Israeli soldiers were taken to a hospital in the south of the country on Thursday Gaza Strip invaded. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari spoke of a “precise and limited operation in Nasser Hospital” in Khan Yunis.
The aim is to recover the bodies of hostages. The army said several suspects had been arrested. The aim is also to “catch Hamas terrorists, including those suspected of being involved in the October 7 massacre.”
According to a spokesman for the Hamas-controlled health authority, the troops stormed Nasser Hospital, destroying a wall. Numerous people had previously fled the clinic in the heavily contested area. The health authority announced that night that one patient had been killed and others injured when the clinic was shelled by Israel. The information cannot yet be independently verified.
Use with special forces
“We have credible intelligence information that Hamas is holding hostages at Nasser Hospital,” the army said. “Terrorists apparently also operated from the hospital.” It is assumed that there could be bodies of hostages on the clinic premises. The operation with special forces had been prepared for a long time. There is no need to evacuate the hospital.
There are currently 134 people in the hands of Hamas, but according to Israeli estimates, at least 30 of them are no longer alive. Negotiations in Cairo to release more hostages in return for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of Palestinian prisoners have so far failed to produce a breakthrough.
On Monday night, Israeli special forces rescued two hostages aged 60 and 70 from Hamas in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.