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Israeli commandos executed a daring raid on Gaza City’s Shifa Hospital, resulting in the death of one of Hamas’s top commanders, Raad Thabet.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday that Thabet, responsible for recruitment and supply acquisition for Hamas’s armed wing, was killed as he attempted to flee with two other operatives into the hospital compound.
The operation unfolded amidst intensifying fighting in various parts of the Gaza Strip, pushing the toll of troops killed in combat to a symbolically significant figure of 253.
According to IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Thabet ranked among the ten most senior Hamas military commanders and maintained close communication with top Hamas leaders, including Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar and military wing head Mohammed Deif.
The IDF asserted that Hamas had re-established a command centre within Shifa Hospital, justifying their incursion into the medical facility.
The raid saw Israeli troops engage in a firefight within the hospital premises, resulting in the deaths of three gunmen.
Over 900 terror suspects were detained during the operation, with more than 200 gunmen killed. Of those captured, 513 were confirmed members of terror groups, while 350 were identified as patients and medical staff.
Shifa Hospital, once the Gaza Strip’s largest healthcare facility, had been one of the few operational medical centres in north Gaza before the escalation of conflict.
The hospital’s role as a sanctuary for displaced civilians was overshadowed by the violence as unverified footage circulated on social media depicting its surgery unit engulfed in flames and nearby structures destroyed.
Hamas and the Islamic Jihad terror group claimed responsibility for launching a barrage of mortar shells targeting Israeli soldiers near the Al-Shifa Complex in a joint operation.
The IDF, in response, evacuated civilians, patients, and medical staff to a designated area within the hospital for continued medical treatment.
Amidst the chaos, Staff Sgt. Nisim Kachlon, 21, of the Givati Brigade’s Rotem Battalion, lost his life in the southern Gaza area of Khan Younis.
Kachlon’s death brought the tally of troops killed since the onset of Israel’s ground offensive to 253, mirroring the number of individuals abducted by Hamas-led terrorists in a brutal assault on southern Israel.
Efforts towards a temporary truce and the release of hostages appeared promising earlier in the week but faltered as Hamas rejected compromises, insisting on a permanent end to the conflict and complete troop withdrawal from Gaza.
The IDF continued its offensive, seizing hundreds of weapons in Khan Younis and neutralizing numerous gunmen in close combat and airstrikes.
International attention turned to the plight of civilians as reports emerged of hospitals ceasing function due to the ongoing conflict.
The World Health Organization highlighted the critical condition of healthcare facilities in Gaza, with just a fraction remaining partially operational amidst the violence.
In a significant development, IDF forces destroyed a 2.5-kilometer section of a Hamas tunnel network in central Gaza, using over 30 tons of explosives. The operation aimed to disrupt Hamas’s underground infrastructure connecting northern and southern Gaza.
The escalation in Rafah, the last remaining Hamas stronghold, raised concerns about civilian casualties as over half of Gaza’s population sought refuge in the city.
Despite assurances from Israel about its goal to defeat Hamas, the prospect of a major assault on Rafah drew criticism, with the US cautioning against such actions.
As the conflict continues, conflicting casualty figures emerge, with Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reporting over 32,552 Palestinians killed since October 7. The IDF claims to have killed over 13,000 combatants in Gaza, in addition to neutralizing terrorists responsible for the October 7 attack inside Israel.
The situation remains volatile, with no immediate resolution in sight as both sides remain entrenched in their positions, prolonging the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire.
This article was created using automation and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members