The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed on Tuesday night that “based on intelligence information and an operational necessity, IDF forces are carrying out a precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area in the Shifa Hospital.”
The confirmation followed a report in Al Jazeera which that the Hamas-run "health ministry" in Gaza had received notice that the IDF was planning to invade the hospital "within minutes".
“The IDF is conducting a ground operation in Gaza to defeat Hamas and rescue our hostages. Israel is at war with Hamas, not with the civilians in Gaza,” the IDF statement said.
“The IDF forces include medical teams and Arabic speakers, who have undergone specified training to prepare for this complex and sensitive environment, with the intent that no harm is caused to the civilians being used by Hamas as human shields,” it continued.
“In recent weeks, the IDF has publicly warned time and again that Hamas' continued military use of the Shifa hospital jeopardizes its protected status under international law, and enabled ample time to stop this unlawful abuse of the hospital. Yesterday, the IDF conveyed to the relevant authorities in Gaza once again that all military activities within the hospital must cease within 12 hours. Unfortunately, it did not.”
The statement noted that the IDF has “facilitated wide-scale evacuations of the hospital and maintained regular dialogue with hospital authorities. “
“We call upon all Hamas terrorists present in the hospital to surrender,” the statement concluded.
IDF spokesman in English, Peter Lerner, told CNN on Tuesday night, "We are entering the Shifa Hospital for a local, precise mission to reach the place where we will defeat Hamas and maybe release hostages. We are not raiding the hospital but targeting a specific place."
The White House commented on the IDF operation and said that Washington "does not support the aerial bombardment of a hospital, and does not want to see a shootout inside it. Hospitals and patients must be protected."
The IDF has previously presented evidence that Hamas uses the Shifa Hospital as its terror headquarters.
The operation inside the hospital came hours after White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the US has independent intelligence showing that the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organizations have been using the Shifa Hospital to conduct their military operations, and among other things, are storing weapons at the hospital.
Earlier this week, The New York Times published new details about Hamas’ use of the Shifa Hospital as its terrorist headquarters.
On Monday, US President Joe Biden said that hospitals “must be protected” in Gaza. Kirby later explained that Biden was not being critical of Israel but was rather discussing the difficulties that the IDF faces while operating in Gazan hospitals, which are being used by Hamas as terror headquarters.