According to sources from Palestinian factions to "Asharq Al-Awsat", the operation aimed to undermine the "sovereignty of Hamas" in Gaza and its attempts to "regain control" and play a role in facilitating aid in the city, which was a stronghold for their activity prior to October 7.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Monday that they had killed Brigadier General Faik al-Mabhouh during the assault on Al-Shifa Hospital, designating him as the "operations chief" within the internal security service of the Hamas government. The IDF also confirmed the arrest of others charged with working with Hamas and acknowledged the loss of one of their soldiers.

An IDF spokesperson stated, "Following intelligence from the General Security Service and the Military Intelligence about the presence of several Hamas officials in Al-Shifa Hospital, a joint raid by the army and General Security Service (Shin Bet) on the site resulted in the elimination of the so-called Faik al-Mabhouh, the head of operations directorate affiliated with the internal security service within the 'terrorist organization Hamas'." The IDF stormed 'Al-Shifa' demanding al-Mabhouh's surrender, which he refused, leading to a fierce clash.

The IDF spokesperson identified Al-Mabhouh as responsible for the internal security operations department and Hamas systems in both daily operations and combat.

However, a statement from "Government Media Office" in Gaza mentioned that "Al-Mabhouh, a leader in Hamas, was tasked with coordinating with clans and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) to introduce and secure humanitarian aid to the Northern Gaza Strip."

The statement relayed Israel's targeting of al-Mabhouh as evident of its determination "to spread chaos in the Gaza Strip and to prevent the facilitation of humanitarian aid reaching hundreds of thousands of hungry people in the Gaza and Northern provinces," adding that "al-Mabhouh's killing came two days after successful efforts to bring in 15 aid trucks to Northern Gaza".

"Remaining Sovereignty"

Palestinian sources in the factions in Gaza told "Asharq Al-Awsat" that "the Israeli operation aimed at striking at the remaining sovereignty of Hamas in the city". They added that "Al-Mabhouh was responsible for police operations in the Gaza Strip, including securing the arrival of aid trucks and their distribution. He was in contact with UNRWA and with the clans".

The sources believed that "Israel does not want this. It does not want any role for Hamas; it aims at the movement's authority, and wants to promote chaos by attempting to impose other armed entities as authorities responsible for aid."

Israel has been trying to persuade tribes, families, and militants to organize the distribution of aid, but most refuse to get involved except "through coordination with the security apparatuses, which al-Mabhouh was one of the main officials in."

The IDF claimed it "acted based on information regarding high-ranking Hamas officials using the hospital as a command center and planning headquarters for actions".

IDF spokesman Daniel Haggari said, "We are aware that Hamas saboteurs have reassembled within the hospital, using it to lead attacks against Israel."

The operation began around 2:30 a.m. when IDF forces from the 401st Armored Brigade and other special forces, along with Shin Bet, surrounded the hospital, triggering a widespread armed clash that killed al-Mabhouh and others, as well as Israeli Sergeant Matan Vinogradov, 20, from the Nahal Brigade's 932nd battalion.

Battlefield Scene

The Israeli assault on Al-Shifa Hospital turned it into a battlefield, with video footage showing gunfire exchanges around the hospital. During the attack, the IDF forced residents living near the hospital and those in the nearby Al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City to evacuate the area and move to a "humanitarian zone" on the south coast of Gaza.

IDF Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee published a map accompanying the announcement indicating the areas to be evacuated, stating that "civilians must evacuate the area and head south along the coastal road of the sector".

However, several hours after the operation began, the IDF said it had "gained control over the area, where forces encircled several buildings in the Al-Shifa complex and began interrogating detainees in the hospital," claiming it arrested about 80 suspects. The army alleged that some of those arrested were "members of Hamas".

This is Israel's second large-scale attack on Al-Shifa complex. Last year, the army launched an attack on the complex on November 5, later presenting what it said was evidence supporting its longstanding claims that "Hamas" uses Al-Shifa Hospital as a main operations and command center, and that the hospital is located above tunnels housing fighters' headquarters. It completed the destruction of tunnels under the Al-Shifa area last December.

Palestinians denied Israel's accusations and justifications, and the World Health Organization (WHO) refuted any hospital being turned into a battlefield.

Calls to End the War

Chairman of the Palestinian National Council, Rawhi Fattouh, condemned the "fascist occupation army's siege and shelling of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City for the second time after its destruction in the first siege, and its killing of dozens of innocents during the war of extermination and ethnic cleansing," describing it as a clear response from Netanyahu's government to international and European positions demanding an end to the brutal and bloody war against our Palestinian people.

Fattouh referred to what was happening at medical facilities and Al-Shifa Hospital as a war crime, "a blatant and blatant violation of international law and the Geneva Conventions."

While the Palestinian factions denied using hospitals for military purposes, Hamas condemned the occupation forces' storming of the Al-Shifa complex, describing the event as "an expression of confusion, despair, and failure to achieve any military accomplishment other than targeting unarmed civilians."

Hamas accused the international community of continuing "to give the green light to Israel to continue the war."

As for the World Health Organization, it expressed concern after the attack on the "Al-Shifa complex," warning that the battles "endanger health workers, patients, and civilians."

Director-General of WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus insisted that "hospitals must not be battlefields," cautioning that "any hostile or militarization of the facility endangers health services and the accessibility of ambulances and the delivery of life-saving supplies."