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The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed on Tuesday that they had targeted a Hamas command and control center located within the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, Gaza.
The military stated that the compound was used by Hamas operatives to plan and execute terror attacks against Israeli civilians and troops.
The IDF’s strike was part of its ongoing operations against Hamas, as the terrorist organization continues to utilize civilian structures, such as hospitals, for military purposes.
The IDF emphasized that Hamas is cynically exploiting the hospital and its surrounding population for terrorist activity, endangering both the local civilians and Israeli forces.
“Senior Hamas officials continue to use the Nasser Hospital to carry out their operations, with complete disregard for the safety of civilians,” the IDF spokesperson said.
“This operation was aimed at neutralizing a key terror infrastructure that directly threatens the security of Israel and its citizens.”
The Israeli military’s statement highlighted the careful measures taken before executing the strike. These steps included the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and a comprehensive intelligence-gathering process to minimize the risk of civilian casualties.
The IDF reiterated that its efforts were designed to limit harm to non-combatants, acknowledging the difficult decision of targeting a hospital that Hamas had transformed into a military facility.
“Prior to the operation, we took every possible precaution to avoid harming innocent civilians,” the spokesperson explained. “Our strikes are always conducted with the highest level of precision and intelligence to ensure that only terrorist targets are hit.”
The Nasser Hospital, located in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis, has been a focal point in the ongoing conflict. In late March, a similar strike targeted a senior Hamas figure within the hospital.
Ismail Barhoum, a senior Hamas operative and head of the organization’s financial operations, was killed in a joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency).
The strike, also conducted with precision munitions, followed extensive intelligence gathering, and Barhoum’s death was seen as a significant blow to Hamas’s financial infrastructure.
The continued use of civilian structures for military operations by Hamas has drawn significant international attention, with critics arguing that it complicates the efforts to distinguish between military and civilian targets in Gaza.
The IDF, while defending its actions, has repeatedly expressed the importance of striking against Hamas while minimizing harm to non-combatants.
As of now, the IDF maintains its commitment to neutralizing Hamas’s operational capabilities while striving to avoid unnecessary civilian casualties, though the complexities of urban warfare in densely populated areas like Gaza present significant challenges.
The military’s actions in Khan Yunis and the broader Gaza Strip remain a point of contention and scrutiny within the international community, with ongoing calls for both sides to adhere to international humanitarian law.
Despite the challenges, Israel continues to prioritize the defense of its citizens while responding to the persistent threat posed by Hamas.