Clear Distinction: Israel at War with Hamas, Not Gaza Civilians
In a significant development, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have initiated a precise and targeted operation against Hamas in the Shifa Hospital. The operation is based on intelligence information and deemed operationally necessary by IDF forces.
The ongoing ground operation in Gaza aims to defeat Hamas and rescue hostages, with a clear distinction emphasized by the IDF – Israel is at war with Hamas, not with civilians in Gaza.
Critical to note is the inclusion of medical teams and Arabic speakers within the IDF forces. These teams have undergone specialized training to navigate the complex and sensitive environment, with a focus on avoiding harm to civilians used by Hamas as human shields.
The IDF has consistently warned against Hamas' military use of the Shifa Hospital, stressing that such actions jeopardize its protected status under international law. The IDF has facilitated wide-scale evacuations and maintained regular dialogue with hospital authorities.
Despite repeated warnings and efforts to coordinate with relevant authorities in Gaza, the IDF conveyed yesterday that all military activities within the hospital must cease within 12 hours. Unfortunately, these warnings were not heeded.
The IDF now calls upon all Hamas terrorists present in the hospital to surrender. The situation remains fluid, with the IDF emphasizing its commitment to minimizing harm to civilians and reiterating the distinction between the military operation and the broader civilian population in Gaza.
