Israel raids hospital in 'hostage search'

>>Patient killed and 6 are wounded in Gaza swoop >Fears of all-out war with Hezbollah after airstrikes

- CHRIS HUGHES

ISRAELI troops searching for hostages yesterday stormed a hospital in southern Gaza, killing a patient and wounding six others.

The bloody assault came as all-out war between Israel and heavily armed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon loomed.

Israeli troops said they had credible intelligence Hamas had held hostages at Nasser Hospital in the besieged city of Khan Yunis and that the remains of hostages might be there.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari insisted IDF forces were conducting a "precise and limited" operation and would not forcibly move medics or patients.

But the raid came a day after the army tried to evacuate thousands of displaced people taking shelter at the hospital.