20 militants killed as Israeli forces raid Gaza hospital

Israeli defence forces killed around 20 Palestinian militants during a raid on a northern Gaza hospital. The operation, described as one of its "largest operations" in Gaza, took place at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia. The raid began early on Friday last week, and the World Health Organization (WHO) said it caused the hospital, the last major health facility in the area, to be emptied of patients and staff. "During the operation, approximately 20 terrorists were eliminated, and powerful explosive devices planted by the terrorists were neutralised," the Israeli military said in a statement on Sunday. The operation ended on Saturday, with the military announcing the detention of "240 terrorists" associated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The military also detained the hospital's director, Hossam Abu Safiyeh, who they suspect of being a Hamas member. "This is one of the largest operations to apprehend terrorists conducted in a single location since the beginning of the war," the military said. The military explained that field investigators from Unit 504 directed the detentions and carried out hundreds of field interrogations. Those detained, including 240 individuals linked to Islamic Jihad and Hamas, were transferred to Israeli territory for further investigation. The military identified 15 militants among the detainees who were involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. According to Gaza health officials and the WHO, the raid forced the hospital to shut down. The military claimed the operation targeted "a Hamas command centre in the hospital," an accusation Hamas denies. Since October 6 this year, Israel's military has focused its operations in northern Gaza. They said that the aim of their land and air offensive is to prevent Hamas from regrouping.