EXPLAINER
The Israeli navy claims it has discovered rifles, grenades and navy vests — however to this point, no Hamas command centre.
Israel on Thursday raided Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital for a second day in a row.
On Wednesday, Israeli troops had raided the coastal enclave’s largest medical facility, beginning at 2am. Israel has lengthy claimed that Hamas was utilizing the hospital as a command centre. The Israeli military has stated the raid has helped it discover proof to again up its assertion.
So what does Israel declare to have discovered?
What was discovered within the hospital?
The Israeli navy launched video footage from inside an undisclosed constructing throughout the medical complicated.
The video confirmed three duffel baggage that the navy claims had been discovered hidden in an MRI lab, every containing an assault rifle, grenades, Hamas uniforms and flak jackets.
Moreover, the military confirmed assault rifles with out ammunition clips and a laptop computer that it stated had been discovered.
Israeli navy spokesperson Jonathan Conricus stated: “These weapons have absolutely no business being inside a hospital,” including that he believed the fabric was “just the top of the iceberg.”
What about Hamas tunnels and navy command?
Within the days main as much as the raid, Israel insisted that Hamas was operating tunnels underground al-Shifa Hospital. It additionally claimed that the hospital was a command centre and navy publish for Hamas.
Israel’s claims had been additionally backed by United States President Joe Biden, who accused Hamas of committing conflict crimes by having its navy headquarters below the hospital.
But, greater than 24 hours after Israel’s raid began, the Israeli military has not proven proof of both Hamas-run tunnels or a navy command centre below the hospital.
An Al Jazeera digital investigation discovered no grounds to the Israeli forces declare that there’s a Hamas tunnel below Gaza’s Sheikh Hamad Hospital ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/4640OprGwk
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 7, 2023
Are there holes in Israel’s claims?
Mustafa Barghouti, the overall secretary of the Palestinian Nationwide Initiative, stated that what Israel had proven in movies from below al-Shifa Hospital to this point might simply have been planted by the military itself.
“All they’ve shown is a Kalashnikov and a laptop that they could have put there easily and claim that it was found there,” the veteran Palestinian legislator informed Al Jazeera.
On X, previously Twitter, the Israeli military first posted a video of Conricus taking viewers on a tour by way of elements of al-Shifa, which it stated was with none edits or cuts.
Nevertheless it deleted that publish after which republished a near-identical video, with some tweaks. On social platforms, that additional fuelled questions in regards to the veracity of Israel’s claims.
How has Hamas responded?
Hamas has denied and dismissed the newest statements by the Israeli navy.
“The occupation forces are still lying … as they brought some weapons, clothes and tools and placed them in the hospital in a scandalous manner,” Qatar-based Hamas senior member Ezzat El Rashq stated.
He added that Hamas has repeatedly referred to as for a committee from the United Nations, the World Well being Group and the Worldwide Committee of the Purple Cross to confirm Israel’s claims of Hamas tunnels below Gaza hospitals.
Barghouti stated Israel has continually rejected these requires an impartial, worldwide staff to analyze the state of affairs in al-Shifa. “Israel doesn’t want that because they know that they are lying,” he stated.
What is going on in al-Shifa now?
Israel’s navy continues to assault al-Shifa, with troops deployed on all sides of the hospital, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud reported from Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
The Israeli navy has destroyed the specialised surgical procedures constructing within the medical facility. The partitions, partitions between the rooms and all of the medical gear contained in the constructing have been fully demolished, he stated.
Tons of of sufferers, medical doctors and nurses, and greater than 2,000 others sheltering at al-Shifa are nonetheless believed to be on the hospital.
“What we see today is that this war is about attacking civilians and attacking hospitals and destroying medical facilities,” stated Barghouti.
