Israeli Army Claims to Have Found Weapons in 'Pillows and Beds of Shifa Hospital Maternity Ward'

The Israeli army claims to have found weapons in the maternity ward of Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip. According to the Times of Israel, released images indicate that Palestinian militants had hidden mortars, explosives, sniper rifles, assault rifles, handguns, and other military equipment inside patients' pillows and beds, as well as in the ceilings and walls of the Shifa Hospital maternity ward. The Israeli army has stated that approximately 350 patients and medical staff from Shifa Hospital have been transferred to a 'designated area' in another part of the complex, where humanitarian aid has been provided to them. The discovery of weapons at Shifa Hospital comes after the Israeli army killed two senior Hamas members, Fadi Dweik and Zakaria Najib, following a chase and exchange of fire in the maternity ward. Following Hamas's terrorist attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the kidnapping of over 250 others, Israel launched an offensive against Gaza aimed at destroying this Islamist group supported by the Islamic Republic. This offensive has displaced the majority of the 2.3 million population of Gaza, who are in urgent need of food and other necessities. Despite the devastating consequences of Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel, officials from this Islamist group have repeatedly emphasized that they will carry out similar attacks if capable. Hamas, without mentioning the number of its members killed as a result of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, claims that nearly 33,000 Palestinians residing in Gaza have been killed and about 75,000 others injured. The Persian section of Voice of America cannot independently verify or confirm the figures provided by Hamas. Meanwhile, Israel has repeatedly emphasized that Hamas uses Palestinian civilians as human shields. Israel has also released numerous images showing that Hamas, contrary to international law, uses civilian infrastructure such as hospitals and mosques for military purposes. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. The French peace initiative aims to end the Gaza war: a 'permanent' ceasefire, the release of hostages, and recognition of the two-state solution. Egyptian television reports that ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas are resuming in Cairo. Acknowledgment of the Islamic Republic's aid; the leader of 'Palestinian Islamic Jihad' promised victory over Israel. The second ship carrying 400 tons of food aid from Cyprus has departed for Gaza. Four people were injured in an attack on UN peacekeeping forces in southern Lebanon. The United States has authorized billions of dollars in new military aid to Israel.