After Israel Defense Forces (IDF) published footage showing what it termed a Hamas operational tunnel shaft on the grounds of the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, the United Nations human rights head called on Israel to allow his team access to the facility. The militant group and the hospital administration both instantly dismissed this accusation.
The footage, which was posted on Thursday, November 16, shows a shaft made of concrete with exposed pipes and cables. No part of the shaft's inside is visible in the footage, though.
IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a televised briefing later Thursday that army engineers were still attempting to reveal the underground infrastructure.
Exposing another layer of Hamas’ exploitation of three of the largest hospitals in Gaza:
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 17, 2023
🔻Inside the Shifa Hospital complex, a Hamas terrorist tunnel was uncovered.
1/3 pic.twitter.com/uGo4uBdTly
Allegations of Tunnels, Chambers That Lead to Hamas Command Center
Officials in Israel and the United States have claimed that a complex network of tunnels and chambers leading to a command center for Hamas exists under the Gaza hospital. Because of this, Israel is under intense international pressure to find proof of this.
In a report by CNN, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has urged Israel to let independent investigators into Gaza to look into the conflicting reports. "This is precisely where you need an independent international investigation, because we have different narratives. You cannot use ... hospitals, for any military purposes. But you also cannot attack a hospital in the absence of clear evidence," Türk stated.
A spokesperson for the IDF said that Israeli forces were still conducting a precise and targeted operation within and around the hospital complex at the time the video was released.
Israel's assertion regarding the tunnel shaft has been deemed absurd by the government media office managed by Hamas. It said that Israel had spread exaggerated claims and manufactured stories regarding the facility.
Counterattacks That Resulted in Many Deaths
Since the tragic assault on its territory by Hamas terrorists on October 7, Israel has been shelling Gaza, an impoverished and heavily populated area.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah said on Thursday, citing medical sources in the Hamas-controlled enclave, that Israeli airstrikes had killed 11,470 people in Gaza, including 4,707 children, CNN reported.
After the two sides killed many people during the attacks, Türk suggested that both Israel and Hamas should be probed.
"What Hamas did - the horrific killing of civilians, the fact that they took hostages - are clear violations of the law. The fact that we have seen a collective punishment by Israel of Gaza, by cutting off supplies, of medical necessities, of food, of electricity, of water, is also [a] very serious matter under international humanitarian law," Türk explained.
On Wednesday morning, November 15, Israeli soldiers conducted a raid on Al-Shifa Hospital and shortly thereafter posted photos of weapons, body armor, and a laptop seized from the facility.
