The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported late Thursday that they had uncovered a tunnel shaft purportedly linked to Hamas and a vehicle containing a substantial quantity of weapons within Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital complex. The IDF shared videos and photos of the claimed findings, emphasizing their assertion that Hamas has employed the hospital for military activities. The body of a 65-year-old woman, identified as Yehudit Weiss and allegedly taken hostage by Hamas, was also said to be recovered near the hospital.
Hamas and medical authorities vehemently deny the IDF’s accusations, countering that the hospital was not utilized for military purposes. The IDF, however, insists on discovering evidence indicating otherwise. The ongoing conflict has heightened global concerns about the impact on civilian populations and the use of civilian infrastructure for military operations.
The IDF’s incursion into al-Shifa hospital aims to expose what they allege to be Hamas’s misuse of medical facilities for military activities and gather intelligence, in addition to the hospital’s symbolic significance in the ongoing conflict. The situation remains tense, with international organizations monitoring the developments closely.
As the conflict unfolds, the IDF has also announced the seizure of Gaza’s harbor, accusing Hamas of using it as a training facility for naval commando forces. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened, with a potential long-term blackout of communications due to the collapse of internet and telephone services, further complicating the dire circumstances for the local population.
