What’s the truth about Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital?

Last week’s military operation in Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital was mired in controversy. According to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), the hospital was a significant target in Israel’s war against Hamas because they believed a command centre was located under the hospital complex. International spectators, including some of Israel’s closest allies, were concerned about the raid and told Israel to act with extreme caution to avoid casualties among hospital staff and patients.  

International organisations – including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nation Population Fund, UN officials, media outlets and Middle Eastern countries including Jordan and Turkey – condemned Israel’s operations in the hospital. The WHO described the scene as a ‘death zone’, but without specifying whether the casualties were terrorists or civilians.  

Critics argued that Israel’s actions violated international humanitarian law that excludes hospitals as legitimate and legal military targets. Israel’s evidence that Hamas has been using the hospital to hide weapons or terrorists was therefore essential. 

Although so far there is no concrete proof that there was a large command centre present in the hospital, Israel has released new evidence to show that the site has indeed been used by terrorists.