IDF launches operation against Hamas near Gaza hospital
The Israel Defense Forces is conducting a ground operation against HAMAS near the Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip, the press service of the Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday.
“Based on intelligence information and an operational necessity, IDF forces are carrying out a precise and targeted operation against HAMAS in a specified area in the Shifa Hospital,” IDF said.
According to the statement, the main objective of the mission is to “defeat HAMAS and rescue our hostages.” – “In recent weeks, the IDF has publicly warned time and again that HAMAS’ continued military use of the Shifa hospital jeopardizes its protected status under international law,” the statement says. “Yesterday, the IDF conveyed to the relevant authorities in Gaza once again that all military activities within the hospital must cease within 12 hours. Unfortunately, it did not,” the IDF said. “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.”
“We are not raiding the hospital, but targeting a specific place,” IDF spokesman Peter Lerner said. In his words, the IDF is carrying out a local and precise mission, “to possibly reach a place where we will defeat Hamas and release hostages.”
Terrorist movement HAMAS and Israel may announce a breakthrough deal to release hostages within the next three days, the ABC television said citing a high-ranking Israeli source. According to the report, “progress has been made on a hostage deal and a breakthrough could come in the next 48-72 hours.”
- A Hamas Political Bureau member, Khalil al-Hayya, said earlier that Hamas was ready to release one hundred hostages kept in the Gaza Strip on condition of a ceasefire needed to identify the location of fifty of them,
- According to the Israeli army, at least 242 people are held hostage on the territory of the Gaza Strip by Hamas and other terrorist groups, including Islamic Jihad. Talks on their release are mediated by Qatar, with the assistance of Egypt.
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