Israel has pledged to remove what it considers to be terrorist infrastructure from a hospital in Gaza City. An IDF spokesperson released video purportedly showing an entrance tunnel with metallic stairs descending 10 meters underground, including its entranceway with metallic staircase.
The military had presented limited evidence, including what it says is an AK-47 concealed behind an MRI machine, that it claims is evidence against Hamas and hospital administration. These claims have been vigorously refuted.
Infrastructure
Israel’s military claims it has discovered an underground network of tunnels near al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, with video footage showing one tunnel shaft with an access ladder leading down into an office room – but is unable to reveal what lies beyond.
The room, built as part of the hospital complex’s modernization and expansion in 1983, reportedly connects to other rooms on lower floors as well as tunnels extending throughout Gaza Strip – a key aspect of Hamas’ defense strategy during 2014.
Israeli soldiers can be seen on video standing atop stairs that lead down into a tunnel with an empty plastic bottle of drink occupying the first step. They avoid opening the blast door out of fear it might contain explosive devices; Kusovac explained this tactic is common as traps can be activated by pressure, light or tripwire activatorss.
The tunnels
Israel’s claim that Shifa hospital complex serves as a Hamas command center with tunnels beneath, has become one of the central issues in this brutal conflict.
Israel released videos which purport to show a fortified tunnel shaft dug by a bulldozer on the grounds of a hospital and equipped with an explosive blast door equipped with an IDF firing hole, giving Hamas access to attack any IDF forces who try to enter its purported control center.
But the Washington Post’s analysis of open-source visuals, satellite imagery and IDF materials released publicly has found no sign of tunnels or control centres near the hospital. Furthermore, the IDF has yet to attempt opening of tunnel doors out of fear they might contain explosive devices that make removal difficult – something the Washington Post analysis confirms.
The blast door
Israel has charged Hamas with using hospitals in Gaza as cover for military infrastructure since the war started, specifically Al-Shifa Hospital Complex which houses command centers and fighters underground in tunnels and bunkers beneath its complex.
On Sunday, Israel published video footage that it claimed as “concrete evidence” to back its claims. The video depicts a narrow passage with arched concrete roofing that leads to a gray door protected by blast-proof mechanisms.
Its implications are clear: this structure serves as an entrance for Hamas underground bunkers and tunnels that contain fighters as well as hostages.
Israel has presented evidence to the world which doesn’t match up to their initial claims, raising suspicions that its army may be targeting the hospital to punish critics of its policies. Furthermore, when explosion experts become suspicious of an impending trap being set for them in military operations they would typically arrive quickly to evaluate and destroy it by means of controlled explosion.
The smoke
As part of their bid to prove Hamas is hiding a military command centre beneath Shifa, Israel sent journalists into tunnels.
They were shown a narrow hole that barely accommodated one person at once, leading into an ominous tunnel and featuring an inside bathroom and pair of metal cots.
Hagari reported that IDF soldiers are currently waiting to open the door as it could contain explosive devices. Should any soldier detect any unusual movements within the tunnel, they will contact bomb disposal experts immediately.
Hagari showed journalists tunnels and rooms which existed, yet this does not prove that Hamas is using the hospital to direct rocket attacks or establish command centers for their rocket attacks or run command centres from. This has caused much debate over Israel’s claims.
