Watch: IDF Discovers Hamas weapons hidden near Gaza school and hospital in Rafah raid

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that its 205th “Iron Fist” Brigade has uncovered weapon stockpiles hidden near civilian infrastructure in Rafah, as part of an extensive military operation to dismantle terrorist infrastructure across the Gaza Strip. The discovery was made amid ongoing activity in the southern Gaza city, where Israeli forces have been targeting Hamas and affiliated militant groups both above and below ground.

According to an IDF statement, the troops located significant caches of weapons belonging to terrorist organizations approximately 80 meters from a building that previously operated as a school and about 100 meters from a structure that once served as a hospital in Rafah. Military officials condemned the deliberate placement of weaponry near sensitive civilian sites, stating, “The Hamas terrorist organization cynically exploits civilian areas for terrorist activity.”

Over the past week, forces from the 205th Brigade have eliminated dozens of terrorists in the Rafah area as part of their operational efforts. The campaign focuses on locating and destroying underground tunnels, weapons stockpiles, and other infrastructure used by Hamas and other militant factions to carry out attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.

The IDF emphasized that their operations are conducted with the objective of safeguarding Israeli citizens while minimizing harm to Palestinian civilians. “The IDF will continue to operate against terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip in order to protect the citizens of the State of Israel,” the statement read.

This latest discovery reinforces longstanding concerns expressed by Israeli officials that Hamas uses schools, hospitals, and other civilian institutions as shields to store weapons and stage attacks, deliberately endangering Gaza’s civilian population to deter Israeli military responses.

The operation in Rafah remains ongoing, with IDF forces continuing to search for and dismantle additional terrorist infrastructure throughout the area.