What’s happening:
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the destruction of a Hamas tunnel located under the Shifa Hospital compound. The tunnel, which featured living quarters and was stocked with weapons, was also reportedly used to hold hostages abducted by terrorists.
Why it matters:
This operation sheds light on the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes by Hamas, which is considered a violation of international humanitarian law. The presence of such a tunnel under a medical facility raises serious concerns about the exploitation of such institutions for terrorism. Additionally, the discovery of hostages’ personal effects points to the dire human toll of these conflicts.
What we know:
The IDF facilitated access for foreign media to document the tunnel, revealing rooms, bathrooms, and an array of munitions. The Shifa Hospital’s director, Dr. Muhammad Abu Salamiyah, was detained for questioning regarding the hospital’s use by Hamas. Evidence found in the tunnel indicates that it was extensively utilized by the terrorist group, even using the hospital’s resources like electricity to maintain the tunnel system.
Big picture:
Israel continues to uncover and combat the network of tunnels that Hamas uses for military operations. The discovered tunnel was fortified with thick concrete walls designed to withstand Israeli air raids. The IDF’s findings illustrate the lengths to which Hamas goes to conceal their operations and the challenge Israel faces in detecting and neutralizing such threats.
On the ground:
The IDF spokesperson stated that the amount of weaponry found was only a fraction of what was believed to be stored under the hospital. Efforts to conceal the tunnel were extensive, with sealed shafts to prevent detection and connections to other underground networks, including those leading to nearby mosques.
The bottom line:
This development underscores the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, highlighting the complexities of urban warfare and the use of civilian structures for military purposes. It also serves as a reminder of the human impact of the conflict, with the discovery of personal items belonging to hostages taken by terrorist groups.
This story was first published on ynetnews.