Israeli forces have launched an overnight raid on the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, with reports of tanks and heavy gunfire at the facility.

An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said the IDF was carrying out a "high precision operation in limited areas" of the hospital.

The IDF said "senior Hamas terrorists have regrouped" inside the hospital and are using it to launch attacks.

Eyewitnesses described a state of panic inside the complex.

In a recorded call with his brother posted on a WhatsApp group, one man said: "Tanks are surrounding us. We are hiding inside the tent. We hear tank fire in the vicinity of the compound."

Heavy gunfire could be heard around the hospital in unverified footage posted on social media.

A statement from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry called the operation a "flagrant violation of international humanitarian law".

Thousands of displaced Palestinians are sheltering at the hospital, which was raided by Israeli forces earlier in the conflict.

The IDF said it found a network of tunnels under the hospital used by Hamas during the IDF's November 2023 raid.

Hamas denies using medical facilities for its operations.

In a video message posted early on Monday, IDF chief spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said the Israeli military was responding to "concrete intelligence which demanded immediate action".

He said the hospital would be able to continue functioning during the raid and told patients and staff they did not have to evacuate.

Displaced people sheltering at the complex will be able to leave the hospital via an evacuation route, he said, before calling on Hamas to "surrender immediately".

Prior to the conflict, al-Shifa hospital was the largest medical facility in Gaza.