The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a raid on the Ash-Shifa hospital in the Gaza Strip, but failed to find any substantial evidence of military activity by Hamas fighters, according to an unnamed European diplomat cited by The Washington Post (WP).
The publication states that Israel had hoped to uncover “undeniable evidence” of such activity during the “controversial raid” at the medical facility.
“The absence of direct evidence so far has led Western allies, including the United States, to increase pressure on Israel to agree to a ceasefire,” the article states.
Previously, the IDF had claimed that Israeli soldiers were continuing to search the Ash-Shifa hospital building in Gaza, and had already discovered weapons, military equipment, and a command center belonging to the Palestinian radical movement, Hamas. The IDF added that Israeli forces were systematically searching the hospital based on available intelligence.
Tensions in the Middle East escalated after thousands of Hamas militants infiltrated Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip on October 7, when Hamas announced the start of the “Flood of Al-Aqsa” operation. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was in a state of war.
The objective of Israel’s counter operation, “Iron Swords,” was to repel the attack, liberate over 200 hostages, including foreigners, and destroy Hamas. As part of this goal, Israel launched massive rocket attacks on the Gaza Strip from the first day of the operation. Additionally, the Israeli National Security Council decided to halt the supply of water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel to the region. Humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza only resumed after October 20, with their volume being deemed insufficient.
On October 27, Israel announced an “expansion” of the ground operation in Gaza. The exact start date of this operation is unknown, but prior to it, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had evacuated their homes and sought refuge in shelters and the southern part of the enclave.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu had vowed to destroy Hamas.
