In a significant development, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released video footage purporting to reveal the existence of an intricate tunnel network belonging to Hamas beneath Gaza City’s Dar al-Shifa hospital complex. The IDF claims this marks the first tangible evidence of such subterranean infrastructure.
The IDF statement, issued on Sunday, asserts that troops, while operating near the in-patients building at al-Shifa, uncovered a booby-trapped pickup truck within the medical complex’s walls. Upon a controlled explosion, the destruction exposed a tunnel concealed beneath the garage floor, supported by photographic evidence.
Dated 16 and 17 November, footage captured by army robots showcases a tunnel shaft approximately 10 meters in length, navigated by a precarious circular staircase. This shaft leads to a 55-meter-long tunnel equipped with electricity wires, sloping downwards to a blast-proof door featuring a small firing slot. The IDF indicates it has yet to breach the door.
Israeli forces entered the expansive al-Shifa complex five days ago, designating it as a Hamas command center despite international protests. Initial displays of weapons allegedly found on the grounds lacked substantive evidence of an extensive tunnel complex beneath the hospital, a claim refuted by both hospital staff and Hamas.
The IDF reports continuous searches for weapons, tunnel shafts, and other Hamas materials at al-Shifa. Noteworthy discoveries include what the IDF identifies as explosive devices in the physical therapy ward, an interrogation room in the cardiology ward, and weapons and intelligence in the MRI center. Independent verification of these claims remains challenging, although the IDF has provided photo and video documentation.
As Israeli forces approached the hospital this week, the UN reported at least 40 casualties, including eight premature infants, due to a lack of electricity for life-saving equipment. The struggle to sustain the remaining 300 vulnerable patients intensifies as the UN attempts evacuation amid Israel’s expanded operations south of Gaza City.
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