Israeli soldiers pushed into Al Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis early Thursday, Feb. 15. The hospital, southern Gaza’s largest, is still functioning in the enclave amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The operation unfolded as Hezbollah terrorists launched a retaliatory attack into northern Israel.
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“We have credible intelligence from several sources — including released hostages — indicating that Hamas held hostages at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and that there may be bodies of our hostages in the Nasser Hospital facility,” Israel Defense Forces Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said.
Hagari, an IDF spokesperson, stated that special forces were conducting a limited operation inside the hospital, accusing Hamas of using hospitals for its terror missions while hiding behind patients.
Israeli soldiers also facilitated the transfer of medical supplies and equipment to the hospital.
“We sent oxygen tanks and fuel for electricity at the request of the hospital to ensure its essential functions continue uninterrupted,” Hagari said.
Ashraf Al Qedra, a spokesperson for the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, accused the IDF of heavy shooting, which wounded many displaced people who were using the hospital as shelter.
The Health Ministry also claimed Israeli soldiers forced hospital patients and displaced Palestinian families to evacuate “under bombardment and threats.”
Meanwhile, Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon fired rockets into northern Israel, one day after Israeli forces launched deadly airstrikes on Hezbollah locations in southern Lebanon. The strikes killed 10 civilians, according to Lebanon’s state-run media.
The IDF claimed to have taken out at least two Hezbollah fighters.
Israel’s strike was in retaliation for a rocket attack that killed an Israeli soldier hours earlier.
“At a time when we are insisting on calm and calling all sides to not escalate, we find the Israeli enemy extending its aggression,” Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati said, condemning the Israeli airstrikes.
A spokesperson from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated, “Our message to Hezbollah has and always will be: don’t try us.”
