Israeli troops raid Gaza hospital for second time

The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday began a new operation in the Al-Shifa Hospital following claims that Hamas terrorists had regrouped at the medical facility. Hamas has allegedly used the hospital in northern Gaza to launch attacks against Israeli forces, said IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. The IDF on Monday released aerial footage they claim shows Hamas terrorists firing at Israeli troops from the hospital. Officials said troops killed Faiq Mabhouh, head of the “operations directorate of Hamas' internal security,” during the raid. Israeli troops were instructed to prevent civilian casualties, and Arabic speakers accompanied the soldiers to communicate with patients inside the hospital, Hagari said.

Tens of thousands of people have taken shelter in the hospital compound, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The IDF last raided Al-Shifa Hospital in November as part of an operation to find Hamas strongholds and tunnel systems. The facility is the largest hospital in Gaza.

Is aid reaching people in the region? The United Nations’ World Food Programme on Monday warned that people in northern Gaza will likely experience famine in the coming months. About 300,000 people in the region’s two northern governorates are at the highest risk, and the rest of the Gaza Strip could face famine later this year, according to the organization. The WFP estimated that 300 trucks of humanitarian aid would need to enter Gaza daily to provide citizens with enough food.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Army is preparing to construct a temporary pier to deliver more aid to the region. The structure could help transport up to two million meals per day, said Pentagon Spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

Are cease-fire discussions still ongoing? Israeli negotiators on Monday were traveling to Qatar to continue cease-fire negotiations, officials told news agencies including Politico and The New York Times. So far, Hamas leaders and Israeli officials have not agreed on the terms of a proposed temporary cease-fire that would include the release of Israeli hostages.

Dig deeper: Listen to Cal Thomas’ commentary on The World and Everything in It podcast about how the war in Gaza is a battle for Israel’s survival.