Israel sent troops into a major Gaza hospital it accuses Hamas of using as a command center, a move that could intensify international criticism of the country as the Mideast conflict rages on.

Israel Defense Forces are “carrying out a precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area in the Shifa Hospital,” the IDF said in a statement early Wednesday. The military earlier “conveyed to the relevant authorities in Gaza once again that all military activities within the hospital must cease within 12 hours. Unfortunately, it did not,” according to the statement.