Israel Reports Discovery of Operational Tunnel and Bomb-Laden Vehicle at Shifa Hospital

The Israeli government press office announced on Thursday that Israeli forces discovered an operational tunnel and a bomb-laden vehicle at Shifa Hospital. According to the Israeli army, the Shaldag unit, the 7th Brigade, and other special units found Hamas tunnel infrastructure within the hospital, as well as a bomb-laden vehicle containing a large amount of weapons and ammunition prepared for the October 7 terrorist attack. Concurrently, the Yahalom unit and the 401st Brigade stationed at Rantisi Hospital also discovered another operational tunnel. The Israeli army has released images of these tunnels, showing their structure and explosive doors used by Hamas to prevent Israeli forces from entering underground infrastructure. Meanwhile, paratrooper brigade forces at Quds Hospital are conducting supplementary operations by discovering weapons and ammunition. Israel announced on Wednesday that its soldiers discovered military equipment used by Hamas during the attack on Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Since the beginning of the conflict with Hamas, Israel has consistently accused the group of exploiting civilian locations and individuals in warfare as human shields. However, Hamas doctors and health officials have always denied using the hospital as a command center and a base for attacks on Israeli forces. The President of the United States, on Monday, November 13, referred to Israeli evidence of Hamas's misuse of hospitals in Gaza City, stating, 'I am in contact with the Israelis and expect less intrusive actions regarding hospitals.' The U.S. State Department spokesperson emphasized in a press conference on Monday that hospitals should not be caught in the crossfire and that instead of asking Israel not to attack hospitals, Hamas should be asked to leave the hospitals themselves.