8 days ago - Netanyahu has released more evidence. - Hexbear

The rest of the BBC update…

Israel accuses Hamas of using hospitals as military strongholds

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has accused Hamas of “systematically exploiting hospitals” as part of its war machine.

Israel has been criticised by the United Nations and its agencies, including the World Health Organization, for alleged strikes on or near Gaza’s medical infrastructure.

In response, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari gave a briefing this afternoon, insisting Israel was striking “based on intelligence” and within international law, adding: “We do not want to strike hospitals and ambulances.”

Hagari also shared declassified information, detailing what he said were Hamas strongholds underneath, inside, and around three hospitals in Gaza.

The BBC cannot verify Hagari’s claims.

Hagari said Al-Shifa hospital - the biggest in Gaza City - sits on top of a Hamas command-and-control centre.

He also shared videos of what an he said was a tunnel opening at the Qatari-funded Sheikh Hamad Hospital in Gaza. Further footage he claimed shows Hamas fighters shooting at IDF soldiers from within the hospital.

Hagari also said the Indonesian Hospital, in northern Gaza, was used as an operational headquarters.

Using satellite images from 2010, before it was built, and from 2023, he illustrated his claim that the hospital was built on top of “an underground city” of tunnel networks.

He also shared images of what he said was a launch pad on a street opposite the Indonesian Hospital used to send rockets into Israel.