Hamas political official Ezzat El-Reshiq on Friday denied allegations that the group was using the al-Shifa hospital as a shield for its underground military infrastructure, warning that the claim was an attempt to “pave the way for targeting a hospital that contains thousands of wounded and shelters more than 40,000 displaced people.”
Israeli spokesman Daniel Hagari claimed earlier that Hamas had “turned hospitals into command and control centers and hideouts” for its commanders. Hagari also accused the Palestinian resistance group of storing fuel for military operations inside hospitals in Gaza.
The al-Shifa Medical Complex is the largest medical health institution within the Gaza Strip. Located in Gaza City, it includes three specialized hospitals; the Surgery Hospital, the Internal Medicine Hospital, and the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians have sought refuge at the hospital since Israel launched a devastating assault on Gaza on October 7.
Earlier this month, the Israeli regime hit the al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza with an air raid that killed nearly 500 civilians.