The Israeli Defence Forces have said troops are conducting a “precise and targeted” operation in a specified area of the Al-Shifa Hospital.

“The IDF is conducting a ground operation in Gaza to defeat Hamas and rescue our hostages. Israel is at war with Hamas, not with the civilians in Gaza,” it said in a post on X.

It added the the troops include medical teams and Arabic speakers, who have undergone “specified training to prepare for this complex and sensitive environment”.