The Israeli army has alleged that bodies of hostages could be held at a hospital in southern Gaza, after troops raided the facility which medics say has been “besieged” for a month.

The military said troops were involved in a “precise and limited operation” inside Nasser hospital in Khan Younis city, after intense fighting between troops and Hamas militants around the facility, AFP reports.

“We have credible intelligence from a number of sources, including from released hostages, indicating that Hamas held hostages at the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and that there may be bodies of our hostages in the Nasser hospital facility,” it said in a statement.

The military did not provide evidence or immediately respond to AFP’s questions regarding when they may have been at the facility, for what purpose or whether soldiers had ever located a hostage inside a Gaza hospital.