Hamas denies any Palestinian military presence in Kamal Adwan Hospital

Hamas released a statement on Friday denying that there was a military presence from any Palestinian armed faction inside Kamal Adwan Hospital.

"We categorically deny the presence of any military appearance or resistance fighters in the hospital, whether from the Qassam Brigades or any other faction, as the hospital was open to everyone and international and UN institutions that know the hospital well," Hamas said in its statement.

"The enemy's lies about the hospital are to justify the heinous crime committed by the occupation army today by evacuating and burning all sections of the hospital, in implementation of the plan of genocide and forced displacement."

Israel claimed there were Palestinian fighters inside the hospital, saying that the hospital was a "Hamas terrorist stronghold" and using this as justification for launching a raid and forcing patients and medical staff out of the building.

Israel forced semi-naked Palestinian medics and patients to leave on foot and set fire to sections of the hospital.

The storming of the hospital comes days after 50 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a building on the hospital's grounds. At least five medical staff were killed in Thursday's attack, along with their wives, parents and children.