Probably also found tunnels
“Strong indications” – Israel suspected hostages in Shifa clinic
November 17, 2023, 12:51 a.m
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The fact that Israel stormed the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip sparked strong international criticism. Now Prime Minister Netanyahu gives one of the reasons: There are said to have been “strong indications” that Hamas is hiding hostages in the Al-Shifa clinic. A tunnel is also said to have been found.
According to a US media report, Israel’s head of government sees “strong indications” that hostages were being held by Hamas in the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip. That was one of the reasons why Israeli soldiers invaded the Shifa clinic, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the American television station CBS on Thursday (local time). If they were in the hospital, they were taken out.
The army had not yet found any hostages during its operation in the hospital. According to their own statements, they found the body of a kidnapped woman in a building nearby. Israel’s government has intelligence information about the hostages, Netanyahu said, according to the report. However, he did not want to give any details.
According to its own information, the Israeli army also found a Hamas tunnel on the site. The military released a video on Thursday evening that appears to show the shaft between buildings at Shifa Hospital. A booby-trapped vehicle containing a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and handcuffs was also discovered at the site, it was reported. The army suspects that it was prepared for the Hamas massacre on October 7th in Israel and the hostage-taking.
View of the Shifa Hospital with explanations from the Israeli military (click for larger view)
(Photo: ntv.de data, satellite image © 2023 Maxar Technologies. via Reuters)
The Israeli military also reported that a tunnel was discovered in Rantisi Hospital. Weapons and ammunition were also found in the Al-Kuds Hospital. The military released photos of the finds. The information cannot be independently verified.
The army also found command and control centers in the complex, according to a military official. It is unclear whether the army discovered the command center of the Palestinian Islamist organization suspected to be under the hospital. The army also announced a few days ago that hostages may have been held in the basement of Rantisi Hospital. The army also found weapons there at the time. Rantisi Hospital specializes in treating children with cancer.
Israel has come under international criticism for its use in clinics in the Gaza Strip. Some states accuse the country of war crimes. According to international humanitarian law, attacks on civilian targets such as hospitals are prohibited. However, according to international law experts, if civilian objects are misused for military purposes, this no longer necessarily applies. In its massacre on October 7th in the Israeli border area, Hamas murdered more than 1,200 people and also abducted around 240 people from there to the Gaza Strip.