Logan Reid
Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex and central hospital in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, has been at the centre of allegations of serving as a Hamas base. During the Gaza War, Israel, supported by the United States, claimed that Hamas used the hospital as a command centre for its operations. However, these allegations have been disputed, with Hamas and hospital administrators denying the existence of tunnels or command centres beneath the hospital. The evidence presented by Israel and the IDF has been criticised as insufficient to prove that the hospital was a nerve centre for Hamas attacks. The debate surrounding the alleged military use of Al-Shifa Hospital highlights the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict and the challenges of verifying information in a highly contested context.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Gaza City, Palestine |
| Type of Hospital | Government-run, largest medical complex and central hospital in the Gaza Strip |
| Hospital Staff | Employees of the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority in the West Bank |
| Allegations by Israel and the US | Hamas used the hospital as a "main operations base" and a "command center" |
| Hamas and Hospital Administrators' Response | Denial of allegations, request for an international delegation to verify claims |
| Evidence | Videos and photos of tunnels, weapons, and Hamas insignia |
| Media Perception | Mixed, tunnels existed but insufficient evidence of a command center |
| US Intelligence | Hamas used the hospital to command forces and hold hostages, but evacuated before Israeli troops entered |
| Human Rights Concerns | Allegations of violations of international law and causing civilian deaths |
| Independent Investigations | Called for by the WHO and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights |
| Impact on Hospital Functioning | Heavy damage, scarce medical supplies, and squalid conditions |
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What You'll Learn
Evidence of Hamas presence
During the 2014 Gaza War, Al-Shifa Hospital was described by journalists and authors as the de facto headquarters of Hamas. Amnesty International documented how Hamas forces used the abandoned areas of the hospital to abduct, torture, and kill Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel.
In November 2023, Israel, supported by the United States, stated that Hamas was using the hospital as a command center and subsequently raided the hospital, where thousands of Palestinians were taking shelter. Israel released a video alleging to show Hamas tunnels under the hospital, but multiple news agencies, including Amnesty International, concluded that the evidence did not demonstrate the use of a command center by Hamas.
The Israeli military released footage in November 2023 of tunnels under Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital, claiming it was a Hamas tunnel shaft. The footage showed tunnels with features characteristic of Hamas tunnels, such as pre-fabricated pieces connected together section by section. However, a control center was not found, and the access points to the tunnel network were not shown to exist within hospital wards.
The United States also believed that Hamas used the hospital complex and sites beneath it to carry out command and control activities, store weapons, and hold hostages. White House national security spokesman John Kirby stated that U.S. intelligence convinced them of Hamas's use of Al-Shifa Hospital as a command and control node and a storage facility.
There have been mixed media perceptions regarding the presence of Hamas at Al-Shifa Hospital. While some media outlets concluded that a network of tunnels existed beneath the hospital, they also found that Israel's evidence was insufficient to prove that these tunnels were used as a command and control center. The IDF released photos showing military equipment, including guns, vests, and grenades, some of which had Hamas logos. However, the amount of arms found seemed inadequate to justify the military's focus on Al-Shifa Hospital.
In addition, there have been conflicting reports from humanitarian workers and journalists at the hospital. Norwegian doctors Mads Gilbert and Erik Fosse, who worked at the hospital during the war, rejected that the hospital was used as a base by Hamas officials or militants. Dr. Erik Fosse found no evidence that it was a Hamas base. Professor Sara Roy concluded that "it was highly improbable that Hamas made military use of the hospital building". On the other hand, journalists from The Guardian saw Hamas officials at the hospital, and a rocket was fired from the area of the hospital, according to a report by journalist Aishi Zidan.
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International law and war crimes
Al-Shifa Hospital is a government-run hospital in Gaza City, Palestine. During the Gaza War, Israel and the United States claimed that Hamas was using the hospital as its "main operations base". Hamas and hospital administrators denied these claims. Israel later released a video that allegedly showed Hamas tunnels under the hospital. However, multiple news agencies and Amnesty International concluded that the evidence did not prove that Hamas was using the hospital as a command center.
International humanitarian law (IHL) protects health establishments and units, including hospitals, from attacks. Wounded and sick individuals, medical staff, and means of transport are also protected under IHL. This protection extends to anyone, whether military or civilian, who needs medical attention and is not taking part in hostilities.
According to Article 8 of the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court (ICC), "intentionally directing attacks" against hospitals is considered a war crime. An exception is made if the targets are "military objectives". In the context of the Al-Shifa Hospital allegations, Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor at the ICC, emphasized that the burden of proof rests with those who carried out the attack.
For a hospital to lose its protected status under international law and be considered a legitimate target, it must be used for acts harmful to the enemy. This includes using the hospital as a base to launch attacks, an observation post, a weapons depot, or a shelter for able-bodied combatants. Even in such cases, the response must be proportionate, and precautions must be taken to avoid targeting civilians.
In the case of Al-Shifa Hospital, there were mixed perceptions in the media. While some concluded that a network of tunnels existed under the hospital, they also acknowledged that the evidence presented by Israel did not prove the existence of a Hamas command center. The head of the World Health Organization called the raid on the hospital "totally unacceptable", and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called for an independent investigation.
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Allegations of propaganda
Al-Shifa Hospital is a government-run hospital in Gaza City, Palestine. During the Gaza War, Israel and the United States claimed that Hamas was using the hospital as its "main operations base" and a major command and control center. These allegations were denied by Hamas and hospital administrators, who requested that an international delegation be sent to the hospital to verify their claims.
The Israeli military released footage in November 2023 of what it said were tunnels under the hospital used by Hamas. However, the evidence presented was disputed, with some media outlets and analysts expressing skepticism. They concluded that while a network of tunnels likely existed, the evidence did not prove that they were used as a command center or that access points were within hospital wards. The footage showed a modest collection of small arms, which suggested an armed presence but not a nerve center as claimed by the Israeli military.
Amnesty International stated that they had not seen credible evidence to support Israel's claims, and Al Jazeera's verification unit disproved similar claims about another hospital. Medical staff at Al-Shifa accused Israel of causing civilian deaths during the raid on the hospital, including prematurely born babies. Israel was accused by several news outlets and human rights organizations of waging a propaganda war and violating international law.
The perception of the media was mixed, with some concluding that Hamas had used the hospital to store weapons and hold hostages. U.S. intelligence agencies also assessed that Hamas had used the hospital complex for command and control activities but had evacuated before Israeli troops entered. However, they did not disclose the evidence for their assessment. White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby supported this assessment, stating that Hamas was using the hospital as a shield and placing patients and staff at risk.
In contrast, journalists and humanitarian workers at the hospital rejected the claim that it was used as a base by Hamas officials or militants. They noted that Hamas officials were often present in the hospital but did not use it as a military base. One journalist reported that her words had been taken out of context by the Israeli press to portray the hospital as a base for rocket attacks. Overall, the allegations of Hamas using Al-Shifa Hospital as a base remain controversial, with conflicting evidence and opinions from various sources.
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Hostages and human shields
Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex and central hospital in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, has been at the centre of allegations of being used as a military base by Hamas. During the Gaza war, Israel, supported by the United States, claimed that Hamas was using the hospital as a command centre and, on 15 November 2023, Israeli forces raided the hospital, where thousands of Palestinians were taking shelter.
The Israeli raid was widely criticised, and Israel was accused by several news outlets, human rights organisations, and the head of the World Health Organization of waging a propaganda war and violating international law. Medical staff at Al-Shifa accused Israel of directly causing the deaths of civilians, including prematurely born babies.
The Israeli military, supported by the United States, has alleged that Hamas used the Al-Shifa Hospital complex and sites beneath it to hold hostages, using patients and medical staff as human shields. White House national security spokesman John Kirby stated that Hamas militants were sheltering in the hospital and using it as a shield against military action, endangering patients and medical staff.
US intelligence agencies claimed that Hamas fighters had largely evacuated the complex before the Israeli operation, indicating that hostages had been held at or under the complex but were moved prior to the Israeli raid. The New York Times reported the existence of underground tunnels and cited classified Israeli intelligence suggesting Hamas used the hospital as cover. However, Israel has been accused of using propaganda to detract from accusations that its actions at Al-Shifa violated international law.
Media outlets and human rights organisations have expressed scepticism about the evidence presented by Israel and the United States. While acknowledging the existence of tunnels, they found that the evidence was insufficient to prove that the tunnels were a command centre or that access points existed within hospital wards. Furthermore, the amount of weapons found did not seem to justify the military's focus on Al-Shifa.
Amnesty International documented that Hamas forces used abandoned areas of the hospital to abduct, torture, and kill Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel. However, Hamas and hospital administrators have consistently denied the existence of tunnels beneath the hospital and requested an independent investigation by the international community.
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Damage to the hospital
Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical complex and central hospital in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, has been at the centre of allegations that it was used by Hamas as its "main operations base". These claims have been denied by Hamas and hospital administrators, who requested that an international delegation be sent to the hospital to verify their claims.
During the 2014 Gaza War, journalists and authors described the hospital as the de facto headquarters of Hamas. Amnesty International documented how Hamas forces used abandoned areas of the hospital to abduct, torture, and kill Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel. The hospital was also accused of being used as a major command and control centre for Hamas, leading to it becoming a target during the siege of Gaza, which culminated in the siege and occupation of the hospital.
In November 2023, Israeli forces raided the hospital, claiming it was being used by Hamas as a command centre. The raid was widely criticised, and Israel was accused of waging a propaganda war. Medical staff at Al-Shifa accused Israel of causing the deaths of civilians being treated at the hospital, including prematurely born babies.
Israeli evidence of Hamas activity at the hospital includes video footage and photographs of weapons, military uniforms, and other equipment bearing Hamas logos, found in the MRI centre and other areas of the hospital. However, the evidence has been deemed insufficient by some, including former US State Department legal advisor Brian Finucane, who noted that the presence of a modest collection of small arms does not justify the military fixation on the hospital.
Following the Israeli raid on the hospital, the main buildings of Al-Shifa Hospital were left in ruins, with the hospital administration estimating that 70% of the facility had been destroyed. The emergency ward and a surgery building were among the destroyed areas, and medical supplies became scarce due to Israel's blockade and the breakdown of law and order in the territory, hindering the delivery of aid.
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Frequently asked questions
During the Gaza war, Israel and the United States stated that Hamas was using Al Shifa Hospital as its "main operations base." Hamas and hospital administrators denied these claims. While the media concluded that a network of tunnels did exist beneath the hospital, they also found that Israel's evidence was insufficient to prove that the tunnels were a command and control center.
Israel released a video in November 2023, alleging to show Hamas tunnels under the hospital. However, multiple news agencies, including the BBC, concluded that the evidence did not demonstrate the use of a command center by Hamas. Israel also released photos showing military equipment, some of which had Hamas logos.
Amnesty International has stated that they have "not seen any credible evidence" to support Israel's claims. The head of the World Health Organization called the November 2023 raid on the hospital "totally unacceptable." The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, called for an independent investigation.
Al Shifa Hospital has been the subject of Israeli raids and has been partially destroyed. The hospital, which was once the cornerstone of the health system in the Gaza Strip, now barely functions. Doctors and nurses perform surgeries in squalid conditions, and patients wait outside for treatment beside the rubble of bombed-out hospital wings.
