The Hidden Camera in Gaza’s Nasser Hospital – and the Deadly Threat That Triggered an IDF Strike
IDF officials say the Khan Younis strike targeted a Hamas operative who had been secretly filming Israeli troops for days. The footage, captured from a camera hidden inside the hospital, exposed Israeli forces and posed a direct threat.
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Israel Confirms: Hospital Strike Targeted Hamas Surveillance Threat
Israeli defense officials confirmed Monday that the controversial strike on Gaza’s Nasser Hospital was directed at a Hamas operative operating a hidden surveillance camera inside the medical facility. The device, concealed under a towel on the hospital’s fourth floor, had been secretly filming Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops for days — helping Hamas track movements, direct fire, and prepare attacks.
The decision to strike came after days of monitoring the camera’s movement and assessing the threat it posed. “This was not random. It was a precision strike against an immediate danger to our soldiers,” an Israeli security source told JFeed.
A Civilian Discovery, a Terrorist Tactic
Remarkably, the camera was first flagged not by intelligence services, but by a private Israeli civilian from Netivot, who closely monitors Hamas activity online. His footage exposed the hidden surveillance device inside the hospital, triggering further IDF investigation.
This discovery highlights Hamas’s long-documented practice of using civilian sites — including schools, mosques, and hospitals — to shield its military operations. By embedding surveillance equipment in a hospital, Hamas turned a medical facility into an operational hub — knowingly endangering both patients and staff.
The Strike and Its Fallout
On Monday afternoon, the IDF struck the room where the camera and its operator were located. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry, 20 people were killed, including several identified as journalists. Among them were Mohammad Salama of Al Jazeera, Mariam Abu Daqa (associated with AP), and two others reported as freelance media workers.
Israel has not confirmed those claims, stressing that Hamas frequently disguises militants as journalists and manipulates casualty reports for propaganda purposes. “We regret any harm to civilians,” the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said, “but the IDF cannot allow terrorists to use hospitals as command centers and observation posts.”
Hamas’s Propaganda War
Hamas was quick to frame the strike as an “attack on journalists.” Yet Israel’s intelligence assessment shows that the supposed “journalists” were actively embedded alongside Hamas operatives. The presence of a surveillance camera deliberately aimed at IDF forces confirms that the hospital was serving as a military outpost, not a neutral humanitarian zone.
Israeli officials emphasized that such tactics are part of Hamas’s broader strategy: using civilians as shields while accusing Israel of war crimes. “Every time Hamas hides behind hospitals, they are the ones endangering innocent lives,” said an IDF officer.
IDF Investigation Ordered
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir immediately ordered an investigation into the incident. The probe will examine operational procedures and the intelligence assessments leading up to the strike. Israel stressed that the inquiry reflects its commitment to the highest standards of accountability — even amid the challenges of urban warfare against a terrorist enemy embedded in civilian populations.
Broader Context: A War for Survival
The Nasser Hospital strike is part of Israel’s ongoing campaign to dismantle Hamas’s terror infrastructure. Since October 7, Hamas has repeatedly weaponized civilian areas, making them legitimate military targets under international law. While critics abroad point to the humanitarian toll, Israel insists it is acting with more restraint than any other army facing similar threats.
“Israel is fighting for survival,” said one government spokesperson. “We are committed to defeating Hamas while upholding our moral values. The real war crime is Hamas turning hospitals into war zones.”
The Nasser Hospital case underscores the brutal reality of the war in Gaza: Hamas’s systematic abuse of civilians and international institutions. While Israel faces criticism, the facts reveal that the strike was a targeted response to a direct threat against its soldiers.
As investigations proceed, one truth remains clear: no army in the world would tolerate being filmed and targeted from inside a hospital. Israel acted to protect its troops and, ultimately, its citizens.