Prior to the Israeli army's planned storming of the Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City, considerable effort was made by Israelis to portray the hospital as a command center for the Hamas movement, allegedly coordinating attacks on Israel. However, despite these efforts, a report in The Guardian, a British newspaper, states that the evidence presented thus far fails to substantiate these claims.
Israeli Forces Tamper With the Placement of Weapons Inside Al-Shifa Hospital
In its report, The Guardian states that the videos published by the Israeli army only show modest quantities of smaller weapons, mostly assault rifles.
This could indicate “a military presence, but not the kind that was depicted depicted in the Israeli army's pre-hospital takeover animations.” These animations illustrated an underground network of equipped rooms. The videos released so far have sparked numerous doubts and queries.
The Guardian referenced an analysis published by the BBC, revealing the Israeli army spokesman pointing to an apparent discovery of a bag containing a weapon behind a medical imaging machine (MRI). The video was recorded a few hours before the arrival of journalists whom he was supposed to show the discovery to.
In another video published later on, the number of weapons inside the bag had doubled. Israeli forces claimed that the scenes they published show their findings within the hospital, emphasizing that these images were not edited and were taken as a one continuous shot. However, the BBC discovered that the images were indeed edited. This aligns with Misbar's previous findings regarding images published by Fox News, where their correspondent accompanied the Israeli army during the assault. Additionally, it applies to other images released by the occupation army, demonstrating manipulation and alterations in the placement of weapons.
Providing More Evidence Raises Doubts Based on Current Information
The Guardian’s report pointed that Israeli forces say they are still closely examining the location inside Al-Shifa Hospital. Images from Al-Shifa Hospital showed that the main facilities are located underground, suggesting that the occupation forces might not have accessed them yet. This indicates that more might be discovered, “but attempts to present what was found up to now as important will cast doubt on what might be presented in the future."
Israel Built a Vast Military Zone at Al-Shifa Complex During Gaza Occupation
The report revealed that these issues raise questions about the extent to which the visual representation of Al-Shifa Hospital underground was based on Israel's actual knowledge. Israeli engineers had constructed a large base there during Israel's direct occupation of Gaza, which lasted until 2005.
The newspaper underlined that all these elements are important according to the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit military operations against hospitals as long as they are not being used “outside of their humanitarian duties." These exceptions, as defined in Article 19 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, explain that “the presence of small weapons and ammunition taken from these fighters, which have not yet been surrendered to the relevant authority, does not constitute actions harmful to the enemy."
Israel Failed To Present the Needed Evidence To Justify Storming Al-Shifa Hospital
Israel ratified the Geneva Conventions in 1951 and claims to respect the principle of proportionality according to international humanitarian law. However, The Guardian suggests that Israel's commitment to these principles has come into question following its recent operations.
The Guardian quoted May El-Sadani, a human rights lawyer, stating, “Israel failed to provide anywhere even close to the level of evidence required to justify the narrow exception under which hospitals can be targeted under the laws of war."
El-Sadani added that “in the rare instance where protection is lifted, Israel would have to provide civilians with a real chance to evacuate, and even then, any civilian who stays inside the hospital after an evacuation order remains protected, in accordance with the proportionality principle." She further mentioned that “at every step of this legal evaluation, Israel has failed greatly. It presented pictures and videos that are not at all relevant to its primary allegations."
The Lack of Compelling Evidence Made It Challenging To Trust Israeli Arguments
The Guardian explains that the details of the Israeli attack on Al-Shifa Hospital have influenced the international climate under which Israel conducts its war. The newspaper adds that countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany, have resisted calls for a ceasefire, based on the idea that “Israel’s actions constitute legitimate self-defense." However, in the absence of compelling evidence following the attack, this argument becomes difficult to support.
Misbar previously debunked Israeli claims following the assault on Al-Shifa Hospital and listed the weak evidence published by the occupation forces claiming the presence of armed fighters inside the hospital.
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How Did the Israeli Army Manipulate the Placement of Weapons Inside Al-Shifa Hospital?
