The Israeli army and the General Security Service "Shabak" issued a joint statement in which they announced the "elimination of the head of operations in the internal security of the Hamas movement in Gaza, Faiq al-Mabhuh, during an operation targeting the Al-Shifa medical complex.

The army and "Shabak" statement included the following: "After intelligence information pointed to the presence of senior Hamas terrorists in Al-Shifa Hospital, the army and Shabak forces, which carried out specific operations in the hospital, eliminated Faiq al-Mabhuh, head of operations in the internal security of the Hamas movement, who was also responsible for coordinating Hamas's terrorist activities in the Gaza Strip."

The statement added, according to the Jerusalem Post: "Faiq al-Mabhuh was eliminated in a confrontation with Israeli forces while armed and hiding in Al-Shifa Hospital, where he was working and carrying out terrorist activity, and many weapons were found in the room adjacent to the place where he was eliminated."

Earlier today, the Israeli army announced that it "is carrying out a precise operation" in the complex area north of the strip, noting that "the operation is based on information indicating the use of the complex by senior officials of Hamas terrorists.