The Israeli military reported launching an operation targeting Hamas fighters near one of northern Gaza’s last functioning hospitals, while Hamas accused it of storming the facility, AFP reports.

Acting on intelligence regarding “terrorist infrastructure and operatives” in the hospital’s vicinity, the military said it began operations there. “The troops are conducting targeted operations in the area, while mitigating harm to uninvolved civilians, patients, and medical personnel,” it added.

Before initiating the latest operation near the hospital, the military said its troops had “facilitated the secure evacuation of civilians, patients, and medical personnel”.

But Hamas said Israeli forces had stormed the facility.

“The occupation army stormed Kamal Adwan hospital forcing medical staff, patients, the wounded, and displaced people to evacuate,” it said in a statement.

Hamas further accused Israeli forces of isolating and detaining those evacuated, saying: “Hamas holds the occupation fully responsible for the lives of patients, wounded, and medical staff after they were cut off from communication, arrested, and taken to an unknown location.”