IDF Reveals Hamas Used Nasser Hospital for Hostage Holding

According to the IDF, dozens of hostages were held within the hospital complex. Abu Ismail was reportedly responsible for holding many hostages, including Nimrod Cohen, Matan Tzangauker, and Idan Alexander.

The IDF claims that Nasser Hospital was used by Hamas for military purposes throughout the war, with the second floor converted into a command center. Access to this floor was restricted to civilians and heavily guarded to facilitate Hamas commanders' activities.

In addition to Abu Ismail, two other Hamas operatives were targeted: Mu'arwad Tawfiq Mahmoud Abu Zarifa, head of a team in the Combat Support and Administration Engineering Department, and Khaled Osama Abu Anza, head of the Communications Section in the Operations Department of Hamas's Intelligence Directorate. The strike targeted the specific room where these operatives were located.

The military asserted that precautions were taken to minimize civilian casualties and damage to the hospital structure before the strike.

The IDF also stated that repeated warnings were issued to Hamas demanding an end to military activity at Nasser Hospital. Liaison officials had recently held discussions with senior figures in Gaza's health system, cautioning that continued use of hospitals for terror purposes could lead to military action. An IDF spokesperson in Arabic had previously demanded an immediate cessation of military activity in Gaza's hospitals, particularly Nasser Hospital, as early as August, but Hamas continued its military operations there.