Israel claims Hamas uses Gaza's main hospital for military purposes, stalemate continues

Amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Shifa Hospital in Gaza has become the center of a dayslong stalemate, with Israel alleging that the facility is being used by Hamas for military purposes. Israel claims that Hamas has constructed an extensive underground command center below the hospital connected by tunnels.

Despite not providing visual evidence, Israel contends that this warrants military action. Shifa Hospital, Gaza's largest and best-equipped healthcare facility, has faced challenges, including fuel shortages, and Palestinian authorities assert that Israeli forces have fired at evacuees, making it too perilous to move vulnerable patients.

Shifa Hospital, a crucial healthcare institution in Gaza, has over 500 beds and offers services like MRI scans, dialysis, and an intensive care unit. The hospital has become a shelter for tens of thousands amid the conflict, with the war drawing closer. Israel has attempted to deliver fuel to the hospital, but a standoff persists. The international community, including U.S. President Joe Biden, has called for the protection of the hospital, emphasizing the need for less intrusive actions by Israeli forces.