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Israel officials claimed they found “concrete evidence” of Hamas operating a military facility beneath al Shifa hospital during their overnight raid — as the military released photos Wednesday showing a jaw-dropping cache of weapons and combat gear recovered during the search.

The IDF carried out a “precise and targeted operation against Hamas” Tuesday night inside the hospital complex, which is housing more than 600 patients, 600 staffers and thousands of refugees displaced by the war.

The Israeli military claimed it killed several Hamas gunmen during the raid and recovered a stash of weapons hidden around an MRI lab, including automatic weapons, grenades, ammunition and flak jackets.

A laptop was also discovered and taken for study.

IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the raid was an “operational necessity” to sniff out Hamas’ alleged headquarters beneath the hospital.

“These assets in Shifa hospital, just like in Rantissi, prove that hospitals have been used for military purposes for terror, in direct opposition to international law,” Hagari said.


  Weapons and equipment which Israel’s army says it found at Al Shifa hospital. via REUTERS Weapons and equipment which Israel’s army says it found at Al Shifa hospital. via REUTERS

Israeli soldiers entered the Rantissi paediatric hospital on Monday, later releasing a video showing what it said were weapons stored by Hamas in the building’s basement.

“These weapons have absolutely no business being inside a hospital,” Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesman, said in a video showing the stockpile recovered from Al Shifa, adding that he believed the material was “just the top of the iceberg.”

The military made no mention on Wednesday of finding any tunnel entrances in Al Shifa. It has previously said that Hamas had built a network of tunnels under the hospital.

Independent reports have yet to verify Israel’s claims and the details of the operation carried out inside the hospital.


  Israeli soldiers inspect the Al Shifa hospital complex in Gaza City, November 15th, 2023 via REUTERS Israeli soldiers inspect the Al Shifa hospital complex in Gaza City, November 15th, 2023 via REUTERS

The allegations against Hamas, however, were echoed by Dave Harden — a former USAID mission director who worked in the West Bank and Gaza — who tweeted Wednesday that intelligence officials knew of the base’s existence beneath the hospital nine years ago.

“When I was in seat, it was broadly suspected/understood as far back as 2014 that Hamas used the Al Shifa Hospital complex as a command center and base for operations,” Harden wrote.

“I didn’t have direct evidence, but it was recognized by both trusted Palestinians and Israelis in my network,” he added.


  A member of Israel’s army shows equipment which they say were found at Al Shifa hospital. via REUTERS A member of Israel’s army shows equipment which they say were found at Al Shifa hospital. via REUTERS

  Weapons which Israel army say were found. via REUTERS Weapons which Israel army say were found. via REUTERS

The IDF’s raid inside the hospital concluded before noon Wednesday, with Israeli troops also delivering stacks of boxes marked “Medical Supplies” to the facility, which has long been struggling to treat its patients after war broke out on Oct. 7.

The supplies included incubators for newborns, baby food, and other necessities the hospital ran out of following the attacks around the site that broke out over the weekend.


  IDF revealed they had uncovered an operational command center, weapons, and technological assets found in the MRI building of the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. via REUTERS IDF revealed they had uncovered an operational command center, weapons, and technological assets found in the MRI building of the Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. via REUTERS

  Following the raid, the IDF delivered boxes of medical supplies to the struggling hospital. via REUTERS Following the raid, the IDF delivered boxes of medical supplies to the struggling hospital. via REUTERS

  Weapons lie on shelves, which the Israeli military say were located at Shifa Hospital. via REUTERS Weapons lie on shelves, which the Israeli military say were located at Shifa Hospital. via REUTERS

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Much attention has been paid to 36 babies in the hospital who require neonatal care after three infants were reported dead during the conflict at al-Shifa.

The IDF said medical teams and Arabic-speaking soldiers were at the hospital to communicate with staff and patients “to ensure that these supplies reach those in need.”


  The lives of 36 newborns are at stake inside the hospital as doctors struggle to provide for the infants amid the gunfire and power outages. via REUTERS The lives of 36 newborns are at stake inside the hospital as doctors struggle to provide for the infants amid the gunfire and power outages. via REUTERS

Hamas and hospital officials have repeatedly claimed that there is no command post beneath al Shifa, with the terrorist group blaming the US for giving the Jewish state “a green light” to attack the hospital after US officials continued to back up Israel’s claims.

Palestinian Health Minister Dr. Mai Al-Kaila, whose party opposes Hamas, condemned the raid as “a new crime against humanity, medical staff, and patients.”

Al-Kaila added that the hospital was not given proper time to prepare for the raid inside the hospital.


  The IDF said it uncovered a stash of Hamas weapons at the Rantisi Children’s Hospital. IDF The IDF said it uncovered a stash of Hamas weapons at the Rantisi Children’s Hospital. IDF

  The soldiers also found motorcycles that belong to Hamas inside the children’s medical facility. IDF The soldiers also found motorcycles that belong to Hamas inside the children’s medical facility. IDF

The US, however, has blamed Hamas for the situation at the hospital, with White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby telling reporters Wednesday that it was the terrorists who chose to install their base inside Gaza City’s largest hospital complex.

“What Hamas is doing … It is a violation of the law of war to headquarter yourself in a hospital,” Kirby said.

The fighting inside al Shifa has been largely condemned by humanitarian groups, with United Nations emergency relief coordinator Martin Griffiths saying he was “appalled” by news of the raid.

“The protection of newborns, patients, medical staff, and all civilians must override all other concerns. Hospitals are not battlegrounds,” Griffiths wrote on X.

Omar Zaqout, supervisor of the hospital’s ER department, said he’s been in contact with doctors inside al-Shifa who described the chaos that broke out throughout the medical center.

“We don’t know what is going on outside, all we’re hearing are explosions, gunfire, screams of older people, and cries of children,” Zaqout told CNN.

With Post wires


  Israeli and US intelligence point to the presence of a Hamas command post beneath Gaza City’s largest hospital. TBN Israel Israeli and US intelligence point to the presence of a Hamas command post beneath Gaza City’s largest hospital. TBN Israel

  Israel released a rendering of the headquarters Hamas allegedly has installed at the hospital. TBN Israel Israel released a rendering of the headquarters Hamas allegedly has installed at the hospital. TBN Israel
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