One of the mysteries of today’s war in the Middle East is the network of tunnels: accusations made by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the US Pentagon against Hamas of placing military facilities, including command posts and weapons depots, under hospitals in the Gaza Strip reveal a whole world underground.
Their length can be compared to the subway system of a large metropolis. Where do these tunnels come from? With what money are they built? How long have they been built? And most importantly, why? They are built for war. They are built with the money of charitable organizations like UNRWA. Money that should have been used to build schools, hospitals, and power plants was spent on strategic facilities like tunnels.
Al-Shifa Hospital itself is 1,500 beds and 4,000 employees.
The Israel Defense Forces has provided video that shows that narrow passageways and a spiral staircase begin only a few meters from the Al-Shifa Hospital fence and lead to a 55-meter horizontal tunnel. This is confirmed by information from our sources, including Ronen Bergman, New York Times Journalist.
The details that have been found indicate that the secret passage was used not only as a hiding place and a place to move around, but also to store weapons. Moreover, weapons stockpiles and notebooks containing photographs and videos of the hostages were found in the underground shelter, which were located within the hospital grounds. It is important to emphasize that the tunnel led to a reinforced door, part of the measures to block Israeli forces’ access to Hamas command centers and underground facilities.
On November 19, 2023, according to WHO, a minimum of 31 children were evacuated from Al-Shifa Hospital to Egypt.
It is becoming clear that the Hamas tunnels are not only a humanitarian crime, but also have a serious military and political impact on the theater of operations in the Gaza Strip. Hamas’ strategic use of the tunnel network changes the nature of the battle and presents a serious challenge to the Israeli military.
One of the most disturbing pages of this investigation is the impact of underground warfare on Gaza’s medical infrastructure. The underground hidden network around and under hospitals, not only threatens the safety of patients and medical staff, but also exacerbates the humanitarian crisis.
Hamas’ activities not only significantly alter the balance in the region and the dynamics of the conflict, but also leave ordinary citizens helpless in this chaos. The tunnels have not just become a strategic element, they have also become a cornerstone in the region’s ever-worsening humanitarian situation.
The use of hospitals for military purposes by Hamas raises serious moral and ethical questions. This action places civilians in the face of an invisible threat as medical facilities meant to save lives are turned into terrorist safe havens and military installations.
The use of the tunnel under the hospital as a military facility is a total inhumanity, in direct violation of international norms and the canons of war, which prescribe the security and untouchability of medical facilities during armed conflicts.
The story of the tunnel under Al-Shifa Hospital must be told so that the world will see the face of the humanitarian crisis that has emerged in Gaza.
On February 13th, social media exploded with a video published by the Israeli State Service showing Hamas leader Sinwar on the run, hiding with his family in tunnels in the Khan Younis area of the Gaza Strip.
The significance of this discovery is now becoming clear:
It should be reemphasized that the opening of Hamas tunnels under medical facilities reveals a new level of humanitarian crisis and the complexities of military conflict in the Middle East. Such actions not only violate international humanitarian law, but also jeopardize the lives and safety of civilians, deepening the ethical and moral dilemmas associated with the confrontation in the region.
This post was last modified on March 9, 2024 10:30
Mocking US Sanctions: The Surge in Iranian Oil Exports Iran has successfully evaded US sanctions, defying the Trump administration and… Read More
"Jewish people also have a historical connection to this land and are not going anywhere" AHMED FOUAD ALKHATIB Thirty-one. That’s… Read More
In Our Name: A Message from Jewish Students at Columbia University To the Columbia Community: Over the past six months,… Read More
The terrorist threat to Europe from the Islamic Republic of Iran -- and Hamas and Hezbollah, its proxies -- is… Read More
Why doesn't the international community accuse Hamas of genocide? The international community does not accuse Hamas of genocide, despite explicit… Read More
Incubating Terrorism Thousands of young students – from universities, high schools and even middle schools – are joining in demonstrations,… Read More