The discovery or lack thereof of certain items in the hospital by Israel could have an impact on international sentiment towards the invasion and influence negotiations for the release of over 200 hostages held by Hamas.
After 18 hours, the Israeli military released photos and video to support their claims. They shared images of 13 guns found in the hospital and stated that they had discovered a military command center in the hospital’s M.R.I. unit.
In a video taken at the hospital, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, a military spokesperson, displayed guns, ammunition, protective vests, and Hamas military uniforms. He stated that some were hidden behind M.R.I. machines and others in nearby storage units.
The New York Times was unable to verify the origin of the weapons and equipment or confirm the existence of the command center. Apart from an initial gunfight outside the hospital, there were no reports of clashes with Hamas gunmen at the site.
Hamas dismissed the Israeli account as a “fabricated story that no one would believe.”
If the Israelis fail to provide compelling evidence that the hospital was used for military purposes, their ability to achieve their goal of removing Hamas from power may be hindered. Israel’s targeting of Al-Shifa has already raised global concerns. A failure to prove the raid’s necessity could lead to reduced support from international partners for future Israeli operations in Gaza.
John F. Kirby, a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, rejected Hamas’ claim that the United States approved the raid on Al-Shifa. He stated that Israel did not inform the White House beforehand.
The war began on Oct. 7 after Hamas carried out a terrorist attack on Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths and the kidnapping of around 240 individuals, according to Israeli officials. In the 40 days since then, Israel’s counterattack, involving air, sea, and land operations, has resulted in over 11,000 deaths in Gaza, including more than 4,600 children, as reported by health officials in Gaza.
Israel aims to remove Hamas from power and regain control over the territory it occupied between 1967 and 2005. Since Hamas took full control of the narrow coastal enclave in 2007, Israel and Egypt have imposed a strict blockade on Gaza.
Initially, the raid on Wednesday appeared to occur without significant bloodshed.
According to a senior military official, Israeli soldiers briefly exchanged fire with gunmen outside the hospital before entering.
Mohammad Abu Salmiya, the hospital director, stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that the soldiers had destroyed a wall of the hospital compound, shattering windows and injuring people inside with shrapnel.
“We can see the tanks before our eyes and we can see the soldiers walking inside the hospital,” he said.