Israel claims to have discovered weapons and military operations in al-Shifa

Israel has released video of what appears to be weapons and military capabilities inside Gaza’s largest hospital, al-Shifa, which Israeli forces attacked this week after claiming the medical facility was the site of a major Hamas operation.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) visited al-Shifa during a video posted onthe platform formerly known as Twitter, and pointed to piles of Hamas weapons inside the hospital and behind MRI machines.

“Some of the most interesting things we found confirm beyond doubt that Hamas systematically uses hospitals in its military operations,” Conricus said. “I think what we found is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Conricus also said Israel found a laptop in an MRI room used by Hamas officials to store intelligence inside al-Shifa. The laptop also contained an image of an Israeli hostage who was taken by Hamas but later rescued, according to Conricus.

The Israeli military battled Palestinian militant groups around al-Shifa for days before announcing early Wednesday morning that it was carrying out a targeted and precise operation inside the compound.

The hospital is one of several hospitals in Gaza City that have come under fire from Israel, which accuses Hamas of using medical facilities for military command sites, thereby turning them into legitimate targets in under the laws of war.

Hamas and Palestinian health officials under the group’s control deny the accusations.

“How can there be a control center…in the Al-Shifa compound,” the Palestinian Health Ministry wrote on Facebook. “He is observed 24 hours a day by reconnaissance aircraft, as he did not witness any clashes during the occupation invasion, which exposes the false American and Israeli narrative. »

The Hamas-run Health Ministry also accused Israel of arresting engineers at the hospital that runs the hospital and said troops had vandalized medical equipment.

The United States shared declassified intelligence on Tuesday, just hours before the al-Shifa raid, that Washington said indicated Hamas was operating inside hospitals, including al-Shifa.

The United States has denied approving any military operation such as the one taking place inside al-Shifa.

Fighting in Gaza City, a Hamas stronghold, has put hospitals on the brink as they struggle to keep lights on and access basic necessities like food and water. Civilians and patients also fell in the crossfire of the fighting.

Thousands of people are believed to be stuck inside al-Shifa, including babies in incubators who cannot easily be moved.

Human rights groups and the World Health Organization (WHO) have called for an immediate end to fighting in health facilities and are sounding the alarm over increased danger to patients and civilians seeking safety from war.

Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, Wednesday said“Hospitals are not battlefields. »

“Even if health facilities are used for military purposes, the principles of distinction, precaution and proportionality still apply,” he said. “International humanitarian law must be respected. »