Press Briefing by IDF Spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, April 1, 2024

Good evening,
Following intense operational activity, the IDF and the ISA completed the operation at the Shifa Hospital today.

During the operation, we eliminated over two hundred terrorists in and around the hospital compound. We apprehended over nine hundred individuals suspected to be involved in terror activity who surrendered to our forces, of them over five hundred of whom are definitely Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists, including senior officials, knowledgeable experts, and operatives.
Interrogations have yielded significant intelligence across various fields that will assist us in further operations.

During the military operation our forces searched the hospital buildings, and were shot at by terrorists who barricaded themselves inside the hospital and fired at our forces. Hamas ruined and destroyed the Shifa hospital after using it as military headquarters – there are more terrorists in the hospital than patients or medical staff.
There were only about three hundred patients, doctors, and medical staff. Throughout the operation, our forces made special efforts not to harm any patients, any medical staff, or any civilian in the area; they were all evacuated safely except for patients who remained in the compound and were provided with medical supplies, water, and more. We will continue to operate wherever there is terrorist activity in Gaza; no place will be a safe haven for terror.

Tonight an unmanned aircraft made and directed by Iran hit the naval base in Eilat. This is a very serious incident. Minimal damage was caused to infrastructure, and there were no casualties. We are investigating the incident to learn, draw lessons, and enhance our defense capabilities in the Eilat area and its surroundings.

Today, in the north, we simultaneously targeted a series of ten Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon, including launch sites, weapon storages, and other terror infrastructure using Air Force fighter jets.
Additionally, in recent days, we eliminated two prominent Hezbollah terrorist commanders who, over the years and especially in recent months, have been involved in two significant threats in the north – anti-tank missiles and indirect fire. They were directly responsible for this activity and were eliminated in recent days. We will continue to strike precisely and neutralize any threats against the State of Israel.
Today, the Chief of the General Staff approved plans for the continuation of the fighting and held an operational situational assessment in the Northern Command.

We are engaged in a complex war across multiple arenas, with IDF forces deployed and operating in all arenas. We are conducting continuous situational assessments according to the developments.
At this stage, instructions at the home front remain unchanged. We are at war, and we must remain alert. We must continue to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command and remain vigilant.
Your conduct over the past six months – with responsibility and resilience despite the difficulty and complexity – has minimized civilian casualties. It is important to continue to act in this way.
If there are any changes in the instructions, we will update the public immediately. At this point, I reiterate, there are no changes; please make sure to stay updated on social networks or other platforms as we will provide updates if any changes occur.

Also tonight, we continue to emphasize that we cannot forget that one hundred thirty-four hostages are being held in Gaza. Their release is what drives us.
It's important for the public to know that the IDF and the security organizations are working around the clock and with every effort to bring the hostages home.
This is our mission, our responsibility.