Hamas denies its fighters’ presence at northern Gaza hospital

GAZA CITY, Palestine (AA) – Hamas has denied Israeli claims about the presence of its fighters inside a hospital that was raided by Israeli forces in the northern Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army raided Kamal Adwan Hospital in the town of Beit Lahia on Friday, burning large sections and forcing patients and displaced civilians to flee.

The army claimed that the raid on the medical facility was to target Hamas fighters inside the hospital.

“We categorically deny the presence of the resistance fighters in the hospital, which was open to everyone, including international and UN agencies,” Hamas said in a statement.

The group said the Israeli claims aim “to justify the heinous crime committed by the occupation army by evacuating and burning all sections of the hospital as part of its plan of genocide and forced displacement.”

Hamas urged the UN to form an investigation panel to look into Israeli crimes in northern Gaza, “which is witnessing a fully-fledged plan of extermination and displacement.”

Israel has continued a large-scale ground offensive in northern Gaza since October 5 to allegedly prevent Hamas from regrouping. Palestinians, however, accuse Israel of seeking to occupy the area and forcibly displace its residents.

No sufficient humanitarian aid including food, medicine and fuel has since been allowed into the area, leaving the remaining population on the verge of imminent famine.

The onslaught was the latest episode in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza that has killed more than 45,400 victims, mostly women and children, since October 7, 2023.

Last month, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.