US Believes Hamas Used Al Shifa, Evacuated Before Israeli Op
WASHINGTON — According to declassified US intelligence, US spy agencies claim that Hamas and another Palestinian group, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, used Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital as a command center and hostage location. However, they mostly evacuated the complex days before Israeli troops entered it, revealed a US official on Tuesday.
The US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad utilized the hospital complex to command their forces in the fight against Israel. They noted that US intelligence agencies had independently confirmed this information but did not disclose the evidence on which the assessment was based.
Earlier in the war in Gaza, Israel also claimed that Hamas had used Al Shifa Hospital. Israeli troops entered the hospital in November.
The targeting of the hospital had caused international concern about the safety of civilians and patients inside. The World Health Organization described the emergency department of Gaza’s main health facility as a bloodbath.
The US government believes that Hamas used the hospital complex, including sites beneath it, for command and control activities. They also stored weapons and held a few hostages, according to the US official. The official further revealed that US intelligence obtained information suggesting that Hamas fighters had mostly evacuated the complex ahead of Israel’s operation, destroying documents and electronics as they left.
According to the New York Times, the US intelligence assessment was first reported by the newspaper, and a classified version of the assessment was sent to US lawmakers in Congress.
In mid-November, Israeli tanks advanced on Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City while some patients were still inside. Israel claimed that the hospital was situated above tunnels housing Hamas fighters and accused Hamas of using patients as human shields. Hamas denied these accusations.
John Kirby, White House national security spokesman, stated in November that Hamas militants were using Al Shifa as a shelter and shield against military action, endangering patients and medical staff. At that time, the US had not declassified the sources of their intelligence.
Israeli tallies state that Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 claimed the lives of 1,200 people. Gaza health officials report that Israel’s subsequent assault on Hamas-ruled Gaza has killed over 22,000 individuals.
In conclusion, declassified US intelligence suggests that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad used Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital as a command center and hostage location. However, they largely evacuated the facility before Israeli troops entered it. The international community has expressed concern about the targeting of the hospital, with the World Health Organization describing its emergency department as a bloodbath. The US government independently confirmed Hamas’ use of the hospital complex and the evacuation prior to the Israeli operation. Both Hamas and Israel have previously claimed control over Al Shifa Hospital, with Israel accusing Hamas of using patients as human shields.
