The Israeli military said on Monday its troops conducted a "precise operation" in the compound of Gaza's Shifa Hospital during which there was an exchange of fire with Palestinian fighters.
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It said soldiers entering the compound were fired on and the troops responded.
Army spokesman Daniel Hagari said senior Hamas terrorists have regrouped inside the Shifa hospital and are using it to command attacks against Israel. He added humanitarian efforts to provide food, water, and other supplies to the patients and civilians were also underway.
Video: Israel army conducting high-precision operation inside Gaza's Shifa hospital, says spokesman / Credit: Reuters
"IDF troops are currently conducting a highly precise operation in limited areas of Shifa hospital following concrete intelligence information that demanded immediate action. We know that senior Hamas terrorists have regrouped inside the Shifa hospital and are using it to command attacks against Israel," he said. "Our targeted mission isn't just an operational necessity, it's a global imperative. Our forces have undergone specific training to prepare them for the sensitive environment and complex scenarios they may encounter. Our war is against Hamas, not against the people of Gaza. We seek no harm to the civilians that Hamas is hiding behind. This is why we will conduct this operation with caution and care while ensuring that the hospital continues its important functions. For this reason, we have Arabic speakers on the ground so that we can communicate with the patients in the hospital in their language and IDF doctors to assist those in need. We will also be conducting a humanitarian effort to provide food, water, and other supplies to the patients and civilians in the hospital compound. There is no obligation for patients and medical staff to evacuate the hospital, but there is, and will be a passageway for other civilians to exit the hospital. We call upon all Hamas terrorists hiding in hospitals, to surrender immediately. Medical facilities should never be exploited for terror. Hamas must be held accountable."
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