The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have released a video showcasing what they claim to be a 55-meter tunnel used by Hamas beneath Gaza’s largest hospital, Al Shifa. Shared on social media, the footage is presented by the IDF as further evidence of Hamas’s purported use of patients as “human shields.”
The video provides a glimpse into an operational tunnel shaft, featuring a circular hole in the ground leading to a 10-meter drop, ultimately connecting to a tunnel in two segments of five meters and 50 meters.
The IDF contends that the tunnel entrance incorporates various defense mechanisms, including a blast-proof door and a firing hole, allegedly implemented by Hamas to impede Israeli forces. The video, dated November 17, intensifies the IDF’s longstanding assertion that Hamas strategically deploys Gaza residents and Shifa Hospital patients as human shields. Hamas denies such allegations, as does the hospital staff, who reject the IDF’s claim that there is a command center beneath the medical facility.
Al Shifa Hospital’s Functionality in Question Amid Ongoing Conflict
In response to these developments, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported that Al Shifa hospital, once Gaza’s largest and most advanced medical facility, has essentially ceased to function effectively.
The hospital’s compromised status adds another layer of complexity to the broader Israel-Hamas conflict. The IDF’s assertions of a Hamas tunnel beneath the hospital intensify the already contentious situation, raising concerns about the impact on medical services and the safety of patients in the region.
Disputed Claims: IDF Allegations versus Hamas Denials
The IDF’s persistent claims of a Hamas command center beneath Al Shifa Hospital are met with firm denials from the Palestinian organization and the hospital staff.
As conflicting narratives persist, the situation underscores the challenges of discerning truth amid the fog of war. The alleged tunnel’s revelation adds a new dimension to the ongoing conflict, leaving many questions unanswered and contributing to the complexities surrounding the Israel-Hamas dispute.