WASHINGTON — The Israeli military said it launched an operation at Gaza's largest hospital late on Tuesday, just hours after the White House echoed Israeli claims that the facility was home to a Hamas command post.
The Israel Defense Forces said it launched a "precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area" of the Dar al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. "Israel is at war with Hamas, not with the civilians in Gaza," the IDF said in a statement.
"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 being used by Hamas as human shields," the Israeli statement read.
Hundreds of patients and medical personnel, as well as thousands of displaced people are believed to remain inside Al-Shifa hospital, which reportedly ran out of fuel to generate electricity for vital lifesaving equipment last week. Al-Shifa's director has denied Hamas fighters are present at the facility.
