During a press conference for the international media held on Friday, October 27, the Israeli army spokesperson, Daniel Hagary presented images and scenes, claiming that they revealed intelligence information obtained by the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) and the Israeli military. Hagary asserted the existence of Hamas headquarters both inside and under Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
Hagary also claimed that Al-Shifa Hospital has several underground headquarters used by Hamas leaders to coordinate their activities, including a tunnel connecting to the hospital that allows access to Hamas headquarters without passing through the hospital. Additionally, he alleged the presence of an internal security monitoring center affiliated with Hamas within the hospital, which is widely staffed by armed men in routine and emergency situations. Also, he claimed that there is another headquarter for launching rockets, targeting Israeli forces, and storing weapons and ammunition.
The Israeli army spokesperson also pointed out that Al-Shifa Hospital comprises of 1500 beds and approximately 4000 staff members, forming a human shield for Hamas movement.
Doubts about the Aerial Image of Al-Shifa Hospital Shared by the Israeli Army
Daniel Hagary presented an aerial image of Al-Shifa Hospital, captured by satellite, accompanied by an illustrative diagram depicting the hospital’s interior divided into various facilities and offices that Hamas purportedly uses for planning and executing its operations. According to Hagary, the diagram highlighted five locations within the hospital in red, with written notes suggesting that they are “Hamas Underground Complex.”
Misbar discovered a similar image of Al-Shifa Hospital via satellite, comparing the locations mentioned by Hagary as Hamas underground complex. It was revealed that these areas belong to specific healthcare facilities within the hospital’s interior and above ground, which are currently crowded with patients, wounded, medical staff, and displaced individuals.
Misbar found that each section of these facilities dedicated to specific medical specialties, such as the first building originally belonging to the reception and emergency department, the second as an outpatient clinic building, the third as an intensive care unit, the fourth as a building for kidney dialysis, in addition to the fifth building allocated for nurseries.
Despite the occupation’s claim, the illustrative diagram does not reveal the exact locations of tunnels under the hospital or explain how Hamas members move between these rooms, despite the distance between them. Furthermore, the image only shows Al-Shifa Hospital via satellite, leading to doubts about the alleged claims.
Suspicious Elements in the Animated Video Published by the Israeli Occupation of Al-Shifa Hospital
The Israeli army spokesperson also displayed a 3D diagram, depicting a huge cache with tunnels and various spots under Al-Shifa Hospital, stating that “Hamas forces use these sites to plan and execute operations against the Israeli forces,” emphasizing that they have evidence to support this assertion.
By examining the video, it becomes obvious that it shows an animation that provides unclear information and is designed in a seemingly random manner, which leads to skepticism regarding the occupation's claims of having evidence to back their assertions. An example provided highlights the absence of entry and exit doors in the rooms in the video, giving the impression that they are suspended in the air.
Looking at the office room featured within the animated video, certain intriguing details are apparent, such as the presence of desks, chairs, and equipment meticulously arranged. Additionally, attention is given to the choice of carpet type, colors, and patterns that align with the room's design.
Back at the beginning of the animation video, an imaginary scene of Al-Shifa Hospital emerges from the outside, quickly transitioning to underground rooms without explaining how the descent occurs or where the tunnel or descent passage within the hospital is located. Although the occupation's spokesperson mentioned that the scenes are symbolic and not real, he simultaneously asserted the presence of real evidence regarding the situation beneath Al-Shifa Hospital.
Israeli Army Releases Audio Recording Alleging New Evidence of Hamas Headquarters Under Al-Shifa Hospital
The Israeli Occupation has released an audio recording, claiming it features two Gaza residents confirming the existence of primary Hamas headquarters responsible for coordinating the movement’s activities beneath Al-Shifa Hospital.
Although no additional information regarding the individuals speaking in the recording was provided, the information presented in the call was presented as new evidence affirming the presence of Hamas headquarters under Al-Shifa Hospital.
Doubts about the veracity of the call arise from the fact that the information it contains is not new but rather a set of longstanding Israeli claims. Israel’s right-wing leader and former Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, previously made similar allegations in May 2021, when he posted a video on his YouTube channel. In the video, he presented images he claimed were from Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, alleging that Hamas was using the hospital and other civilian locations to store weapons, based on intelligence.
At that time, Misbar investigated the images shared by Naftali Bennett and revealed that they were misleading. It was found that these images did not pertain to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza but instead belonged to the International Shifa Hospital in Pakistan. This revelation suggests that the Israeli information is inaccurate but has been circulating for years.
Head of Gaza Government Press Office Refutes Israeli Occupation Allegations about Al-Shifa Hospital
Following the allegations made by the Israeli army spokesperson, Daniel Hagary, the head of Gaza government press office, Salama Marouf, stated that Israel’s threat to Al-Shifa Hospital is “a death sentence for patients, wounded, and displaced people.”
Marouf held a press conference in the emergency and reception building of Al-Shifa Hospital to respond to these allegations, emphasizing that “all allegations made by the Israeli occupation are fake.”
He added, “We did not expect that they would threaten the largest medical complex in the Gaza Strip, which houses thousands of medical staff, patients, and tens of thousands of displaced people.”
Marouf clarified, “Every location presented by Israel in its fabricated animated video of Al-Shifa Hospital are healthcare facilities filled with patients, wounded individuals, medical staff, and displaced people.” Moreover, he emphasized that Israeli allegations are “lies that the Israeli occupation has propagated since the beginning of the ongoing Holocaust against the Palestinian people.”
Dr. Mohammad Abu Salmiya, the director general of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, stated, “We have storage rooms for medical equipment and limited food supplies under the hospital.” He further confirmed, “A team can inspect these supplies.”
Hamas Movement Refutes Israeli Occupation Allegation Regarding Al-Shifa Hospital
Hamas has refuted Israeli allegation of using Al-Shifa Hospital for military purposes, deeming these allegations to be criminal and dangerous claims that pave the way for targeting the hospital. Hamas is urging the international community to intervene immediately to prevent the destruction of the medical system in the Gaza Strip.
Additionally, the Hamas movement published a statement via its Telegram account, warning that Israeli claims might be a prelude to an attack on Al-Shifa Hospital.
According to Hamas, “We firmly assert the falseness of the Nazi occupation’s narrative regarding the use of Al-Shifa Hospital for military purposes or the presence of any Hamas leaders within it.”
Hamas has also called upon the United Nations, Arab and Islamic countries to “intervene immediately to halt the bombing and destruction of the medical system in Gaza City.” Additionally, Hams has emphasized that the Israeli allegations about Al-Shifa Hospital “confirm the Israeli forces’ crime in targeting the Baptist Hospital.”
Red Cross Visit to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza
Further investigation about Al-Shifa Hospital conditions in recent times revealed that a delegation from the International Red Cross visited the hospital during the ongoing aggression on the Gaza Strip. The delegation did not report any evidence suggesting Hamas’s control over the hospital or the presence of any unusual military activity. Moreover, the delegation emphasized much death, destruction, and displacement. They also urged the need for allowing the entry of aid and medical teams waiting in Egypt, as well as protecting civilians.
On the other hand, a representative from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and a representative from the World Health Organization (WHO) also visited the hospital and did not encounter any threats or signs of Hamas control within the hospital.
In July 2023, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced the the completion of the emergency department's renovation at Al-Shifa Hospital, executed in partnership with the International Red Cross Committee's supervision. It is one of the sections that the Israeli army spokesperson indicated as containing Hamas headquarters.
However, the International Red Cross Committee, which oversaw the renovation, had no concerns about the hospital and expressed satisfaction with the update, emphasizing that the facility is fully equipped and ready to serve the families in Gaza.
Israel Has Announced Targeting Hamas Leaders, None of Whom Were in Al-Shifa Hospital
Since the beginning of the recent aggression on the Gaza Strip on October 7, the Israeli army declared targeting some Hamas leaders and published a list of those assassinated. However, they did not confirm targeting any of them in the vicinity of Al-Shifa Hospital or other hospitals’ facilities. Israel stated that it targeted them in places used by Hamas movement, including observation posts, anti-tank rocket launchers and military installations.
Al-Shifa Hospital Accommodates Thousands of Displaces People, and the Occupation Bombs its Perimeter Following its Allegations
Al-Shifa Medical Complex is the largest healthcare institution in the Gaza Strip, consisting of three specialized hospitals: Surgical Hospital, Internal Medicine Hospital, and Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital.
It should be noted that thousands of Palestinian civilians have been displaced in the hospital since Israel launched its intense attack on the Gaza Strip on October 7, in response to Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, which was launched by the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military arm of Hamas.
Experts have warned that the Israeli allegations are potentially aimed at justifying an attack on Al-Shifa Hospital, which houses thousands of wounded individuals and shelters over 40,000 displaced persons.
Following Israeli allegations, the Israeli military escalated its attacks on Gaza, expanding its aerial strikes and artillery fire in a heavy shelling that led to the disruption of phone and internet services throughout the Gaza Strip. These airstrikes targeted areas in the vicinity of Al-Shifa Hospital, the Indonesian Hospital, and Al-Bureij refugee camp in the Gaza Strip.
Read More
Israeli Influencers Rely on Satire to Increase Audience Susceptibility to Misinformation
Israel’s Establishment Narrative is Challenged by a Tunisian Historian
