Israel launches military operation inside Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital, where hundreds of patients and medical staff are trapped

Israeli forces were raiding the Gaza Strip’s main hospital Wednesday, a significant escalation of its assault on the Palestinian enclave that further raised fears for the hundreds of patients and staff trapped in the Al-Shifa complex with dwindling fuel, food and medical supplies.

The Israel Defense Forces said its soldiers were carrying out a “precise and targeted operation against Hamas” in a specified area of the hospital. It said the raid was being carried out "based on operational necessities," as well as intelligence indicating that Hamas activity had been detected there. 

Global attention has been centered on the hospital for days, and news that troops had entered the site drew new expressions of concern from U.S. leaders, the World Health Organization and aid groups.

The Israeli military has maintained throughout the conflict that Hamas hides in tunnels under Gaza hospitals, including Al-Shifa. The U.S. on Tuesday said its own intelligence also confirmed that Hamas was using Al-Shifa hospital to conceal military operations. Both Hamas and hospital workers have denied the allegations.