Israel says Gaza hospital is ‘beating heart’ of Hamas as special forces hunt terrorists and find weapons

ISRAEL had stormed Gaza’s largest hospital in what it calls a “precise” attack to hunt down terrorists inside the “beating heart” of Hamas. Thousands of patients, doctors and displaced Palestinians that have been trapped inside the besieged complex for weeks are feared to be caught in the crossfires. ReutersIsrael claims a Hamas stronghold lies beneath the hospital that is filled with civilains[/caption] ReutersSmokey footage from inside the hospital after Israel launched their attack[/caption] ReutersInjured patients are seen being moved away from the worst of the fighting[/caption] Last night, Israeli special forces launched their “precise and targeted” raid inside al Shifa – which the IDF today called a “military necessity” to root out Hamas. A witness told the BBC that they saw tanks and a hundred commandos advance on the medical facility. The IDF said the operation has continued this morning as they engaged in gun battles with Hamas terrorists and found weapons inside. “Before entering the hospital our forces were confronted by explosive devices and terrorist squads, fighting ensued in which terrorists were killed,” the Israeli military said, without specifying exactly where the firefight took place. The hospital has become a symbol of the widespread suffering of Palestinian civilians as ill and wounded patients, including newborns, have been dying from dwindling supplies and no electricity. Now, fears are growing for those trapped inside a battleground. The World Heath Organisation said the hospital risks being turned into a “cemetery” after Israeli troops made it their primary target in the battle to control northern Gaza. The UN heavily denounced Israel’s raid inside al Shifa and stated: “Hospitals are not battlegrounds”. “I’m appalled by reports of military raids in Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza,” Martin Griffiths, the UN’s chief of humanitarian affairs said. “The protection of newborns, patients, medical staff and all civilians must override all other concerns.” The White House also renewed its calls that all hospital patients “must be protected”. “We do not support striking a hospital from the air and we don’t want to see a firefight in a hospital where innocent people, helpless people, sick people trying to get medical care they deserve are caught in the crossfire,” a spokesperson said. IDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner told CNN that the operation was in a “specific location” in the complex, but noted 1,000 civilians were still on the grounds. The IDF also claimed that it had successfully provided incubators, baby food and medical supplies to the hospital. Last night, the IDF called on all members of the militant group inside the hospital to immediately surrender. “In recent weeks, the IDF has publicly warned time and again that Hamas’ continued military use of the hospital jeopardises its protected status under international law, and enabled ample time to stop this unlawful abuse of the hospital,” it wrote in a statement. “We call upon all Hamas terrorists present in the hospital to surrender.” An official told The Sun: “Prior to their entry, the IDF troops encountered explosive devices and terrorist cells, and an engagement began in which terrorists were killed.” It comes after the United States said it has a “variety of intelligence” that reveals Hamas are using al Shifa Hospital to run terrorist operations. The White House‘s national security council spokesperson, John Kirby, said: “We have information that confirms that Hamas is using that particular hospital for a command and control mode.” He added the facility is also probably being used to store weapons. “That is a war crime.” But the spokesperson added the alleged actions by Hamas do not lessen Israel‘s responsibility to protect civilians. “We do not support striking a hospital from the air,” Kirby said. “Hospitals and patients must be protected.” President Joe Biden earlier said on Monday that the hospital “must be protected” and said he was hoping for “less intrusive action”. Hamas “strongly condemned and rejected” the claims made by the US and accused Biden of giving Israel the “green light” to attack the hospital. It comes after Israeli forces wiped out a terror cell at the Al Quds hospital, where Hamas reportedly used patients as human shields. On Monday, the IDF said its troops were fired at by Hamas fighters from the entrance of Al Quds hospital as they “embedded” themselves among civilians. Israeli forces returned fire, claiming to have taken out 21 terrorists in the attack. “During the incident, approximately 21 terrorists were killed and there were no casualties to our forces,” the IDF claimed. It did not confirm or deny whether any civilians were killed during the fighting. In the nearby al Rantisi Hospital, Israeli military claimed they have discovered one of Hamas’ lairs and weapons headquarters set in the basement level. IDF footage revealed what appears to be an underground terror nest littered with babies’ nappies and bottles – possibly indicating hostages could have been held there. Troops said they found many weapons in the hospital basement, including explosive belts, grenades, weapons and RPG missiles. They also claimed to have found signs indicating that hostages were held in the room as they found a chair with women’s clothes and a rope. Meanwhile, they also uncovered a Hamas training camp containing terror tunnel shafts, classrooms, intelligence material, and dozens of different types of weapons – including rockets and rocket-propelled grenades. Forty one days into the grinding conflict and the bomb-blitzed Strip has been “split in two” by IDF forces who have relentlessly pushed ahead with their invasion in an attempt to wipe out Hamas for good. Now, 16 years of Hamas’s brutal rule of the Strip could finally be crumbling as Israeli forces surrounding Gaza City moved to fully capture it yesterday. Israel claims Hamas has lost control of Gaza after its troops reportedly seized the terror group’s parliament and police headquarters. Yoav Gallant, Israeli Defence Minister, said on Monday: “There is no power of Hamas capable of stopping the IDF. “The IDF is advancing to every point. “The Hamas organization has lost control of Gaza, terrorists are fleeing south, civilians are looting Hamas bases, they have no confidence in the government.” On October 7, Hamas launched a cross-border killing spree on Israel, slaughtering 1,200, mostly civilians, and dragging some 240 hostages back into Gaza. Over 11,000 people – including 4,500 children – are said to have been killed in Gaza since Israel began its retaliatory strikes and ground operations, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Newborns at Al Shifa were transferred from incubators to a single bed after the hospital ran out of fuel GettyA young Palestinian boy injured in Israeli raids is treated at Nasser Medical Hospital[/caption] AFPHundreds of civilians are sheltering inside the al Shifa hospital that IDF forces attacked last night[/caption] AFPFor days, the hospital has been running out of fuel, food, water and medicine[/caption] AFPHuge clouds of dust and smoke soar above Gaza following recent Israeli strikes[/caption] Footage shared by the IDF allegedly shows Hamas fighters attacking them outside the Al Quds hospital in Gaza Israeli soldiers are attempting to eliminate Hamas terrorists they believe are using hospital patients as human shields