The Israeli military said it had found "ammunition, weapons and military equipment" from the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas in Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital, where it intervened militarily on Wednesday.
"We have proof that the hospital was being used for military and terrorist purposes contrary to international laws," army spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters. Hamas' health ministry, meanwhile, said the IDF "did not find any weapons or equipment" in the building, saying it "does not authorize" the presence of weapons in its facilities.
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The Israeli military on Wednesday carried out a "targeted operation" in the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip, where the UN said it was holding about 2,300 people, including patients, medical workers and displaced people.
In a separate statement, the army said it had found: "In one of the hospital's departments, troops located a room containing technological equipment, as well as military and combat equipment used by the Hamas terrorist organization."
Terrorists killed before entering hospital, army says
"In another department of the hospital, the soldiers found an operational command center and technological equipment belonging to Hamas," the document said. One of the departments involved is the hospital's MRI department, it said.
The army has released images of what it says are weapons, grenades and other equipment found in Al-Shifa. A claim that we are unable to independently verify.
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"When the soldiers entered the hospital complex, they confronted a number of terrorists and killed them," the army said. According to Daniel Hagari, civilians have been evacuated from the facility but "there are still many people inside".
"Hamas uniforms" were also found in the facility. "Two hundred Hamas terrorists who participated in the October 7 carnage took refuge (in the hospital)," the spokesman said. "We will continue our research in the hospital," he added. The Israeli operation inside the sprawling hospital complex has provoked widespread international reactions, sparking concerns and calls to protect civilians.