Hailey Tran
The Israeli military has been accused of raiding al-Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in the Gaza strip, and posting videos and photos of militants and weapons housed within the hospital. The Israeli government has claimed that there is a vast network of Hamas tunnels underneath the hospital, which has been corroborated by multiple sources, including a former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Barak, who acknowledged that the bunkers were built by Israel. However, critics have pointed out that the burden of proof for such claims should be high to justify the raid, and so far, the evidence has not conclusively shown that Israeli officials' claims are correct.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Under Shifa Hospital, Gaza City, Palestine |
| Construction | Built in the 1980s by Israel |
| Purpose | To serve as a secure underground operating room and tunnel network |
| Current Use | Allegedly used by Hamas as a command centre and to store weapons |
| Evidence | Photos and videos posted by Israeli forces, interviews with hospital staff, classified Israeli intelligence documents |
| International Response | Amnesty International stated that there is "no credible evidence" to support Israel's claims |
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What You'll Learn
Israel claims Hamas used the bunker as a command centre
Israel has accused Hamas of using a bunker under Shifa Hospital in Gaza as a command centre. In late October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement claiming that Hamas was operating beneath Gaza's Shifa Hospital, using patients, doctors, and staff as human shields. International humanitarian law prohibits the targeting of hospitals unless there is evidence of military use, which would constitute a war crime.
The IDF has presented evidence of weapons stashed in the hospital and posted photos and videos online of the discovery. However, critics argue that the evidence does not support the claim of a Hamas command centre, noting that the Israeli military had distributed material of the tunnel network before the raid. The burden of proof for the claim about the tunnels is high to justify the raid on the hospital.
In response to the allegations, Hamas has denied the military use of the hospital and dismissed the evidence as "lies and cheap propaganda." Social activist Huwaida Arraf wrote that Israel built the bunker beneath the hospital in 1983. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak acknowledged that the bunkers underneath Shifa Hospital were built by Israeli constructors and used by Hamas as a command post. Barak clarified that Israel helped build the bunkers to enable more space for the hospital's operations within the limited size of the compound.
While Israel has maintained that the tunnels were being used as major command centres by Hamas forces, the specific claim of a Hamas command centre in the bunker under Shifa Hospital remains disputed.
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Israel says it found Hamas weapons in the hospital
In November 2023, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) raided Shifa Hospital, the largest hospital in Gaza, to carry out what they described as "a precise and targeted operation against Hamas in a specified area within the hospital, based on intelligence information and an operational necessity." The Israeli government had previously released an animated video showing a network of Hamas tunnels under the hospital, and had alleged that Hamas was using the hospital as a command center.
During the raid, the IDF reported that its elite Shaldag unit and other forces of the 36th Division discovered an array of weapons inside the hospital, posting photos and videos online of the discovery. The IDF said that the weapons belonged to Hamas militants, and that the group's continued military use of the hospital was in violation of international law. The US also confirmed that Hamas and Islamic Jihad were using Shifa and other hospitals, as well as tunnels underneath them, to support their military operations.
However, critics of the Israeli occupation have pointed out that the burden of proof for the claim about the tunnels should be quite high to justify the raid on the hospital. So far, the evidence, including interviews with hospital staff and videos posted by Israeli forces, has not conclusively shown that Israeli officials' claims are correct. Amnesty International has stated that it has "not seen any credible evidence to support Israel's claim that al-Shifa is housing a military command center."
While it is still unclear whether Hamas operates the space beneath Shifa Hospital as a major military headquarters, it has been confirmed that Israel built a bunker or basement under the hospital in the 1980s. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak acknowledged that the bunkers underneath the hospital were built by Israeli contractors, but stated that they were being used by Hamas as a command post.
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Israel has been accused of indiscriminately attacking the hospital
Israel has been accused of indiscriminately attacking Shifa Hospital in Gaza. The hospital is the largest medical complex in the region and provides critical care to thousands of people. In November 2023, Israeli forces raided Shifa Hospital, claiming that it was being used by Hamas militants as a command and control center. Israel alleged that Hamas was using the hospital to shield its underground headquarters and that the group's continued military use of the hospital jeopardized its protected status under international law.
However, critics have questioned the validity of Israel's claims. While it is acknowledged that a network of tunnels existed beneath the hospital, there has been skepticism about whether these tunnels were indeed used as a command center by Hamas. Amnesty International stated that they had "not seen any credible evidence to support Israel's claim that al-Shifa is housing a military command center." The Israeli military has also been accused of distributing material before the raid that showed five underground complexes, yet they have not conclusively shown that these complexes were used for military purposes. Furthermore, critics have pointed out that even if Hamas was using the tunnels, Israel's attack on a hospital with patients and medical staff inside may still constitute a war crime and a devastating attack on human rights.
The raid on Shifa Hospital has had devastating consequences. According to statements by Hamas, 40 people died inside the hospital during the siege, including three babies. Hospital workers and the Palestinian health ministry reported struggling to keep patients alive, as Israeli forces stripped and arrested civilians and hospital staff, exhumed graves in the hospital yard, and forced doctors and patients to evacuate at gunpoint. The head of the World Health Organization called the raid "totally unacceptable," emphasizing that hospitals are not battlegrounds.
In response to the accusations, Israel has maintained that it only targets military objectives and takes precautions to avoid civilian harm. Israel claims that Hamas uses civilian infrastructure as cover and puts civilians in harm's way by blocking their evacuation from combat zones. However, these claims have been disputed by human rights organizations and medical staff at Shifa Hospital, who have accused Israel of directly causing the deaths of civilians, including prematurely born babies. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for an independent international investigation into the incident, stating that there are "different narratives" and that hospitals cannot be attacked without clear evidence of military use.
The debate surrounding the Shifa Hospital raid highlights the complexities of conducting military operations in densely populated areas. While Israel asserts that it targets only legitimate military objectives, critics argue that the attack on Shifa Hospital demonstrates a disregard for civilian life and humanitarian norms. The presence of tunnels beneath the hospital, whether built by Israel or not, does not necessarily justify the raid, especially considering the lack of conclusive evidence of their military use by Hamas. The incident has brought attention to the need for independent investigations and adherence to international humanitarian law, even in the midst of conflict.
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Israel says it found a 55-metre terrorist tunnel under the hospital
In June 2025, the Israeli army retrieved the body of Hamas military chief Mohammed Sinwar from a tunnel beneath a hospital in southern Gaza. The tunnel was reportedly two feet wide and less than six feet tall, and led deep beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis. The Israeli military escorted journalists on a controlled tour of the tunnel, which they claim proves Hamas uses civilian infrastructure as a shield for militant activity.
Israel has long accused Hamas of using tunnels beneath hospitals in Gaza for military purposes. In October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement alleging that Hamas was operating beneath Gaza's Shifa Hospital, using patients, doctors, and staff to shield its underground headquarters. The IDF reported discovering an array of weapons inside the hospital and posted photos and videos online as evidence.
However, critics have questioned the validity of Israel's claims, arguing that the burden of proof should be high to justify raiding a hospital. While some evidence suggests Hamas militants were present in the hospital, there is debate over whether it served as a major command center. Amnesty International stated that they had "not seen any credible evidence to support Israel’s claim that al-Shifa is housing a military command center."
Adding to the complexity, it has been acknowledged that Israel played a role in constructing bunkers and tunnels beneath hospitals in Gaza decades ago. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak confirmed that bunkers underneath Shifa Hospital, which Israel claimed were being used by Hamas, were originally built by Israeli contractors. This information raises questions about Israel's decision to target these sites, knowing the potential risk to civilians.
In conclusion, while Israel claims to have found a 55-meter terrorist tunnel under a hospital in Gaza and presented evidence to support this assertion, the interpretation of this evidence is disputed. The discovery of the tunnel and its implications for the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians remain a highly contested issue.
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Israel says Hamas used the hospital as a bunker and refuge
Israel has accused Hamas of using Shifa Hospital as a bunker and refuge. In late October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) issued a statement claiming that Hamas was operating beneath Gaza's Shifa Hospital, using patients, doctors, and staff as human shields to protect its underground headquarters. International humanitarian law prohibits the targeting of hospitals unless there is evidence of military use, which would constitute a war crime.
The IDF has presented evidence of weapons stashed in the hospital, including photos and videos of weapons and tunnels discovered during a raid on November 15, 2023. They also reported the discovery of an array of weapons inside the hospital and the killing of five Hamas fighters outside the facility. However, critics argue that the evidence does not conclusively prove Israeli officials' claims, and that the burden of proof should be high to justify the raid on a hospital.
In response to these accusations, Hamas has denied the allegations, stating that the evidence presented is "lies and cheap propaganda." They have acknowledged the existence of a vast network of secret tunnels, bunkers, and access shafts but maintain that they are not located in civilian infrastructure like hospitals.
The debate surrounding the alleged military use of Shifa Hospital by Hamas has sparked controversy, with some questioning the Israeli forces' attack on the hospital despite their knowledge of the tunnels. Additionally, it has been noted that Israel has made similar claims about tunnels underneath other hospitals in Gaza, such as the Indonesian Hospital.
While the existence of tunnels and bunkers underneath Shifa Hospital is acknowledged, the extent of their use by Hamas as a command center or military headquarters remains disputed. Independent confirmation of their presence and the purpose of the underground infrastructure is yet to be established conclusively.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Israel built a bunker under Shifa Hospital in the 1980s.
The bunker was built to serve as a secure underground operating room and tunnel network. It was also meant to provide more space for the hospital's operations within its limited compound size.
There are conflicting claims regarding Hamas' use of the bunker for military operations. While Israel and the United States have asserted that Hamas used the bunker as its "main operations base," Hamas and hospital administrators have denied these allegations.
Israel has presented evidence, including photos and videos, of weapons and tunnels allegedly belonging to Hamas militants discovered during a raid of Shifa Hospital. However, the validity of this evidence has been questioned by critics and independent media outlets.
The raid on Shifa Hospital has had devastating consequences, with hospital staff struggling to keep patients alive and facing challenges due to a lack of fuel and electricity. There have also been reports of Israeli forces arresting civilians, hospital staff, and doctors, as well as forcing evacuations at gunpoint.
