The Islamist Hamas organization refuted the Israeli military's claim that it had killed about 90 gunmen and taken 160 prisoners during a raid on Gaza's Al Shifa Hospital on Wednesday.

One of the few hospitals in the northern part of the territory that is even partially operational is Al Shifa. Prior to the conflict, it was the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip and also housed displaced civilians.

"Over the past day, the troops have eliminated terrorists and located weapons in the hospital area, while preventing harm to civilians, patients, medical teams, and medical equipment," the military stated in a statement.

The names and images of the two Israeli soldiers who were killed in the operation were also made public.


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The Israeli raid on the hospital started early on Monday morning.

The military claimed to have sent in special forces backed by infantry and tanks after receiving information that gunmen were once more using the hospital. The military later released videos showing weapon caches inside the building.

The head of Gaza's government media office, which Hamas controls, Ismail Al-Thawabta, stated that every person who died was a wounded patient or a displaced person who was inside the hospital.

"The Israeli occupation army practices lying and deception in spreading its narrative as part of justifying its continuous and law-breaking crimes, which violate international law, international humanitarian law," he said.


Reuters was not able to corroborate either story.

When Israeli forces first raided Al Shifa Hospital in November of last year, they came under heavy fire. There, the troops discovered tunnels that they claimed Hamas had utilized as command and control centers.

The hospital is not used to house fighters or for military purposes, according to Hamas and medical personnel.

"What happens in Al Shifa Hospital is a war crime and is part of the war of genocide conducted by the Israeli occupation," said senior Hamas official Basem Naim, who has previously served as a health minister.