The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) raided Nasser Hospital, the main hospital in southern Gaza on Thursday due to “credible intelligence” that hostages were likely held there, and the bodies of some captives may still be in the complex.
The Times of Israel reported on the situation: IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced that from the raid troops were able to detain dozens of terror suspects. He said among those detained at the hospital were a Hamas ambulance driver who participated in the October 7 onslaught, another suspect who admitted to having taken part in the attacks, and a PFLP operative. The IDF also said it uncovered medications with the names of hostages on them.
During an evening press conference, Hagari said troops also found weapons, including explosives and mortars, within the premises of Nasser Hospital. Last month, a rocket was fired from the hospital at troops in Gaza. Hagari said that according to the IDF’s intelligence assessments, over 85 percent of “major medical facilities” in Gaza have been used by Hamas for terror activity.
The IDF said Hamas maintained a command room, an intelligence and interrogation complex, and a police station at Nasser Hospital. The IDF also released footage from the interrogation of a captured Hamas operative, who said that at least 10 hostages were held at Nasser Hospital.
“We conduct precise rescue operations — as we have in the past — where our intelligence indicates that the bodies of hostages may be held,” Hagari said in his earlier statement.
He said the IDF has “credible intelligence from a number of sources, including from released hostages, indicating that Hamas held hostages at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and that there may be bodies of our hostages in the Nasser Hospital facility.”
“As was proven with the Shifa Hospital, Rantisi Hospital, Al Amal Hospital, and many other hospitals across Gaza, Hamas systematically uses hospitals as terror hubs,” Hagari said.
“Because Hamas terrorists are likely hiding behind injured civilians inside Nasser Hospital right now and appear to have used the hospital to hide our hostages there too, the IDF is conducting a precise and limited operation inside Nasser Hospital,” he said.
“This sensitive operation was prepared with precision and is being conducted by IDF special forces who underwent specified training,” Hagari noted.
