As the Israeli military continues its week-long operation battling hundreds of terrorists holed up inside Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical center in Gaza, the World Health Organization (WHO) has refrained from condemning the cynical use of a hospital by Palestinian terror groups. Despite repeated requests for comment, the WHO remained silent as the Israel Defense Forces engaged with fighters from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad inside the hospital.
Hamas has admitted to using almost every hospital in Gaza, including Al-Shifa Hospital, for its military activities. Itamar Yaar, a former deputy head of Israel’s National Security Council, highlighted that Hamas utilizes hospitals because they believe Israel will not dare to send troops into these sites.
Israel faced international criticism for allowing its troops to enter Al-Shifa Hospital during the conflict. The IDF discovered underground bunkers and a command center beneath the hospital, revealing Hamas' use of the facility for military purposes.
Israeli forces killed around 170 terrorists, arrested more than 500, and seized weapons and money hidden in the hospital. Among the captured terrorists were top operatives from Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas.
The IDF dismantled Hamas’ military structure in the north but found terror cells returning to Al-Shifa Hospital. Despite the delicate operation, no patients or medical staff were harmed.
Under international humanitarian law, hospitals should be protected during times of war. However, Hamas’ use of hospitals for military purposes has become a significant element in the conflict, with hospitals being used for command and control.
Israeli forces have battled terror groups in other hospitals in Gaza, emphasizing the challenges of upholding humanitarian principles in the midst of armed conflict.
