Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has made serious allegations against the terrorist organization Hamas. “From wards to hospital basements: Hamas turns Gaza hospitals into centers of terror.” The IDF said this in a statement. They mention the latest discoveries made during their operation, which they present on an interactive homepage that is constantly updated.
The system behind the terrorist infrastructure: Above ground, on hospital floors, next to general wards, Hamas terrorists stored weapons and equipment such as grenades, explosive devices, and rocket-propelled grenades. High-ranking Hamas militants misused hospitals during the war. They even disguised themselves as “patients” or medical staff in intensive care units.
The basements of hospitals housed offices and general health services. But they are linked to Hamas’ underground command and control centers. The underground network of tunnels runs from hospitals to nearby terrorist centers.
Accordingly, the buildings of Shifa Hospital in Gaza City served as emergency housing for the Hamas brigades’ operating rooms. During the fighting, weapons were brought into the underground floors of the hospital. The IDF found a large quantity of weapons in the MRT building of the hospital complex. There was also a large cache of weapons in an important tunnel shaft of the hospital. “He is currently under investigation,” the IDF report said.
IDF soldiers discovered another weapons cache and an interrogation room in the cardiology department, as well as explosives in the physical therapy ward and another building. He also presented evidence of being held hostage in the hospital this week.
Rantisi Hospital was said to be used for weapons transfers. This hospital is also the headquarters of Hamas. It is used for military activities such as ambushes and offensive attacks, and also serves as a hideout for high-ranking Hamas members. An operational Hamas tunnel shaft was found in the hospital, as well as numerous weapons and evidence of hostages being held in the hospital.
In a statement, the IDF underlined: “For years, the terrorist organization Hamas has systematically established terrorist infrastructure in sensitive civilian areas such as schools, kindergartens and mosques.” This includes terrorist tunnels, hideouts for terrorists, command and control centers. Attacks, launch pads for rockets, and so on, anti-tank missile and weapons depots.
The terrorist infrastructure uses the Gaza Strip’s civilian population as “human shields”, a gross violation of international law. Hospitals are the favorite places for terrorist activities. “For years, Hamas has created a system throughout the Gaza Strip to make the best use of hospital areas for its terrorist purposes.”
The purpose of terrorist infrastructure in hospitals is to provide optimal protection to Hamas terrorists in times of war. Its purpose is to deter attacks by the IDF, which is committed to abiding by international laws governing armed conflict.
