Israel continues its "precise and targeted" operation against Hamas in Al-Shifa hospital
The area around Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital, the largest in the Palestinian enclave, has been the focus of fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas for several days. In the early hours of last night, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) finally entered the health centre to carry out a "precise and targeted" operation against Hamas infrastructure as the 40th day of the war draws to a close.
Israel claims that the terrorist group's headquarters is located underneath the hospital, an argument also supported by US intelligence. According to National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, Washington has information that Hamas and other Palestinian groups are using the Al-Shifa hospital, as well as other medical facilities, for military purposes.
Kirby also raises the possibility that many of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are being held in tunnels beneath hospitals, where terrorists are also hiding.
Hamas has denied such allegations. However, the IDF has found weapons inside the health centre and eliminated at least five members of the organisation outside Al-Shifa. Evidence was also found at the Rantisi children's hospital in the northern Gaza Strip that Hamas used it to hide terrorists involved in the 7 October massacres in southern Israel and to hold some of the more than 200 abductees.
IDF footage shows the moment the Navy's elite Shayetet 13 commando unit and the 401st Armored Brigade raided Gaza City's Rantisi Hospital, finding a cache of weapons and a room likely used to hold hostages. pic.twitter.com/By28w5vsvU
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) November 14, 2023
"Underneath the hospital, in the basement, we found a Hamas command centre, with suicide (attack) bomb waistcoats, grenades, AK-47 assault rifles, explosive devices, anti-tank rocket launchers and other weapons, computers and money. We also found evidence indicating that Hamas held hostages at the site," said IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari, also showing footage filmed at the site.
Clashes between the Israeli army and Hamas are aggravating the crisis at the hospital, where, according to the UN, "patients continue to die, including premature babies". Although many civilians have fled the health centre to the south, the UN has estimated that at least 2,300 people (patients, staff and displaced civilians) remain inside the hospital and may not be able to escape due to the fighting.
The Shifa Hospital is not only the largest hospital in Gaza but it also acts as the main headquarters for Hamas’ terrorist activity.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 27, 2023
Terrorism does not belong in a hospital and the IDF will operate to uncover any terrorist infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/Ybpln5xQb2
Israel has urged civilians to leave and evacuate through humanitarian corridors but, on many occasions, the Hamas-controlled Gaza authorities have prevented them from doing so. The IDF also claims to have tried to coordinate the evacuation of the most seriously ill patients and premature babies. They have also delivered incubators to Al-Shifa hospital as well as humanitarian aid.
Video of IDF troops delivering medical supplies and humanitarian aid to Gaza's Shifa hospital.
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) November 15, 2023
Hamas was unavailable to comment - they are too busy hiding in tunnels with the hoards of food and fuel they stole from the Palestinian people. pic.twitter.com/G4wxdcyJCA
Meanwhile, the Egyptian authorities are working to evacuate 36 newborn babies from Al-Shifa for medical care in Egypt, according to Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar.
Possible deal to free hostages?
As the humanitarian crisis deepens in Gaza, concern is growing for the more than 200 hostages held by Hamas and other terrorist groups. In the last few hours, Israel has announced the death of Noa Marciano, a 19-year-old soldier captured by Hamas on 7 October when her base in Nahal Oz was attacked by terrorists.
Hamas released a video of the young woman, who identifies herself and says she has been held in Gaza for four days. The footage then shows her dead body on a bloodstained sheet and a close-up of a head wound. According to the terrorist group, Marciano was killed "in an airstrike by the Zionist enemy", although Israel accuses Hamas of murdering her.
The IDF confirmed on Tuesday that Noa Marciano, 19, a soldier in the Border Defense Force, had been killed while being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. 🕯️ Our thoughts are with her grieving family during this difficult time. Learn more: https://t.co/vRClisecui pic.twitter.com/bcLOXSODkX
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) November 14, 2023
Israeli authorities and the soldier's family discovered she was kidnapped after Hamas released a photograph showing Marciano tied up with three other hostages.
"Hamas continues to use psychological terror and to act inhumanely by sending videos and photographs of the captives, as it has done in the past," the Israeli military said.
Rescuing the hostages is an Israeli priority and, according to US President Joe Biden, "it's going to happen". In this regard, a senior US official has indicated to CNN that Israel and Hamas are nearing an agreement to secure the release of the hostages in exchange for a several-day pause in the fighting.
Fighting continues on the Lebanese border as Houthis launch new attack on Israel
The situation in northern Israel remains fragile due to Hizbollah attacks. The IDF, meanwhile, responds to every offensive by the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shi'ite group and Jerusalem warns Beirut.
Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant have repeatedly warned that Hezbollah would make a "grave mistake" that would affect the entire country if it decided to go to war.
#IDF 🇮🇱 targets Hezbollah terror infrastructure in southern #Lebanon 🇱🇧 pic.twitter.com/LZvSyNd2tq
— Aleph א (@no_itsmyturn) November 14, 2023
"Hezbollah is about to make a grave mistake that will make the residents of Beirut suffer the consequences," said Gallant, who said the Shi'ite group "is dragging Lebanon into a war" where the Lebanese "will pay the price".
The speaker of the Lebanese parliament, Nabih Berri, has condemned these threats, as well as Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon. Hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah have resulted in the deaths of three Israeli civilians and six soldiers. On the other side of the border, more than 80 people have been killed. The death toll includes at least 71 Hezbollah members, eight Palestinian terrorists, several civilians and a Reuters journalist.
As seen in Kiryat Shmona. The official war is with #Hamas in #Gaza, but #Hezbollah projectiles keep being launched at the #Israeli northern towns (this town with a population of about 23,000 was evacuated.) pic.twitter.com/BKpMLI73zZ
— Natasha Mozgovaya (@mozgovaya) November 13, 2023
In addition to Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis - another Iranian-backed and funded group - continue to launch attacks on the Israeli city of Eilat on the Red Sea. Again, the Arrow air defence system intercepted the missile, which failed to enter Israeli airspace, despite alarm bells ringing in the coastal city.
Israeli MoD footage shows Arrow air defence system working on targets. pic.twitter.com/nN98nbyPFV
— Clash Report (@clashreport) November 13, 2023
In addition to launching missile and drone attacks, the Houthis are also threatening to attack Israeli ships sailing in the Red Sea.
