In a controversial move, Israel conducted a raid on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital, claiming it captured “dozens” of terror suspects.
The Israeli military alleged that Hamas had held hostages within the hospital premises, justifying the operation as a “precise and limited mission.”
The Israel Defense Forces’ chief spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, stated that among those captured was a participant in Hamas’s attack inside Israel on October 7, an ambulance driver for Hamas involved in driving a hostage into Gaza, and a member of the armed Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine group.
However, despite these claims, Rear Admiral Hagari acknowledged that Israeli special forces involved in the hospital raid had yet to find any evidence of kidnapped Israelis, and the search was ongoing.
The controversial raid unfolded as verified images circulated, showing medical staff rushing patients on stretchers through a corridor filled with smoke or dust.
Patients, including those in critical condition, were forced to evacuate under gunfire, raising concerns about the impact on the vulnerable population.
Nahed Abu-Teima, the director of Nasser Hospital, described the conditions inside as “catastrophic and very dangerous.”
He reported violent shelling and severe explosions in the vicinity of the complex, painting a grim picture of the situation.
The raid on Nasser Hospital comes after the IDF ordered thousands of displaced people, who had sought shelter at the site, to leave.
The hospital, one of the few still functioning in Gaza, has been a focal point of intense fighting between the IDF and Hamas for several days.
International concern has escalated, with the United Nations expressing alarm over allegations of sniper fire at the hospital complex, putting the lives of doctors, patients, and displaced people at risk.
The medical charity Medicins San Frontieres highlighted the impossible choices faced by those ordered to evacuate, describing the situation as an “apocalyptic landscape” of bombings.
As Israel faces increasing international pressure to show restraint, the controversy surrounding the raid on Nasser Hospital adds to the complex dynamics of the conflict in the region.
The situation is evolving, with ongoing calls for a peaceful resolution and respect for the well-being of civilians caught in the crossfire.
