(Bloomberg) -- Israel sent troops into a major Gaza hospital it accuses Hamas of using as a command center, a move that could intensify international criticism of the country as the Mideast conflict rages on.
Israel Defense Forces are “carrying out a precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area in the Shifa Hospital,” the IDF said in a statement early Wednesday. The military earlier “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,” according to the statement.
Read More: US Frustration With Israel Grows as Gaza Civilian Deaths Mount
The scale of Israel's move wasn't immediately clear. Regional news channels Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya said the Israeli military had entered the hospital compound. The IDF said its forces included medical teams and Arabic speakers. An official at the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said tanks were at the front gate.
The IDF operation was widely expected after Israel said the hospital and tunnels underneath it were utilized by Hamas to hide forces following the group's Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Hamas — which is a designated terrorist organization by the US and European Union — denies Israeli accusations that it uses hospitals as bases.
Read More: Israel Faces Mounting Global Pressure Over Gaza Hospital Attacks
Hundreds of patients, medical personnel and displaced civilians were at the hospital in recent days, making it a center of international attention in the conflict, with Israel and Hamas trading accusations over the facility. Medical supplies and fuel were believed to be running out, and Israel said its forces have been trying to deliver goods including incubators in recent days.
A spokesperson at the US National Security Council declined to discuss the Israel operation, but said the Biden administration didn't want to see gun battles raging in a facility where people trying to get medical care could get caught in the crossfire.
Concerned about rising civilian casualties in the conflict, US President Joe Biden this week called on Israel to take “less intrusive action” at the Shifa hospital, while other global leaders have stepped up calls for humanitarian pauses or an outright ceasefire.
Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on Tuesday about efforts to free hostages. It wasn't clear if the two leaders spoke before the IDF operation at the Shifa hospital, or if Biden was informed of Israel's plans. White House officials said they had intelligence suggesting that some of those captured during the Oct. 7 raid on Israel had been held under the hospital complex.
--With assistance from Justin Sink.
(Adds comments from US National Security Council from sixth paragraph.)
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