Exploring the Uncovered Tunnel Shaft Adjacent to Al-Shifa Hospital: Our Eye-opening Experience
Accompanied by the Israeli Defense Forces, we embarked on a journey to witness a recently discovered tunnel entrance within the premises of Al-Shifa Hospital Traveling in a convoy of camouflaged Humvees, we gained unique insight into this remarkable find
The devastation in northern Gaza is clearly visible, even in the darkness. The buildings, standing as empty shells, are illuminated by the last remnants of light, emerging from the landscape along the dirt roads across the Gaza Strip. During the night, the only signs of activity come from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) vehicles, solidifying their control over the northern sector.
On Saturday night, we accompanied the IDF into Gaza to witness the recently uncovered tunnel shaft at Al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in the enclave.
Our convoy of Humvees, after crossing the border fence at approximately 9:00 in the evening, switched off their lights. We relied on night vision goggles to navigate through the Gaza Strip. Over the next six hours, a significant portion of our time was spent shuttling back and forth from the tunnel shaft.
As we moved along our route, the evidence of wartime devastation was evident on virtually every building. Countless structures laid in ruins, while others were barely recognizable, reduced to twisted metal. The presence of life in this area had long vanished; residents had either relocated south or tragically lost their lives during the six weeks of war.
Soon after crossing the border into Gaza, the convoy of Humvees turned off its lights and traveled in darkness.
Oren Liebermann, a CNN correspondent, and his team made their initial stop at a beachside location, which served as a staging area for the IDF. They then transitioned to armored personnel carriers alongside fellow journalists for the final kilometer of their journey to the hospital. The only glimpse of the outside world was through a night-vision screen. However, even in grayscale, the extent of devastation was profoundly jarring.
In Gaza City, the desolate streets were lined with the skeletal remains of apartment towers and high-rise buildings. Despite our presence as embeds with the IDF, there were no Palestinians to engage with.
CNN provided coverage from inside Gaza, always accompanied by IDF media escorts. To be granted access, journalists had to comply with certain conditions, including submitting filmed footage to the Israeli military for review and refraining from disclosing sensitive locations and the identities of soldiers. However, CNN maintained full editorial control over the final report.
Stepping out of the armored vehicle, we found ourselves immersed in complete darkness. Our only means of navigation were our red lights, which guided us to a nearby building. There, we patiently awaited the arrival of Israeli forces who were responsible for securing the area. Although the tunnel shaft was in close proximity, it remained completely exposed.
Our group's commander, Lt. Col. Tom, informed us that this tunnel surpassed any he had encountered previously in terms of size. "This is not your average tunnel," he exclaimed. "During the 2014 operation, Protective Edge, I served as a company commander and I can confidently say that this tunnel is significantly larger, in a league of its own."
We had anticipated the sounds of battle as we ventured into Gaza City itself. To our surprise, an eerie stillness greeted us instead. Only once, during our approximately 45-minute stay at the hospital, did we catch a faint echo of gunfire in the distance. Its origin, however, remained indeterminable in the urban surroundings. The rest of the time, the profound silence heightened the weight of the darkness.
The only view of the destruction in Gaza was through a small night vision monitor in an armored personnel carrier.
Oren Liebermann/CNN
As we approached the tunnel shaft, the clock ticked closer to midnight. The IDF had assured us of indisputable evidence that Hamas was utilizing the hospital complex as a concealed hub for terror activities. This included a command center beneath the ground.
Earlier, the IDF had presented their initial evidence, claiming to have discovered weapons and ammunition within the hospital premises. However, upon closer inspection, the photographs fell short of proving the existence of a Hamas facility underground. In fact, our CNN investigation revealed that some of the firearms had been relocated.
The following day, the discovery of the tunnel shaft proved to be even more intriguing, revealing an entrance to an unknown underground area. However, the nature and depth of the tunnel remained unclear, which remained the ultimate question that everyone was striving to answer.
As we stood on the verge of the tunnel shaft, it became evident that the structure itself was quite substantial. At the uppermost part, the remnants of a ladder dangled over the edge of the opening. Positioned in the center of the circular shaft was a central pole resembling a focal point for a spiral staircase. The depth of the shaft extended beyond our line of sight, particularly in the dim illumination provided by our headlamps.
A video released by the IDF reveals what was previously unseen from the top of the opening: a spiral staircase leading into a concrete tunnel. According to the IDF, the tunnel shaft descends approximately 10 meters, with the tunnel itself stretching for 55 meters. At the end of the tunnel stands a metal door equipped with a small window. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the spokesperson for the IDF, stated that the underground facility needs to be demolished. The discovery of this facility has put significant pressure on the leadership of Hamas, and the IDF will now proceed to safely demolish it, although this process will take time.
This is possibly the strongest evidence presented by the IDF suggesting the existence of a tunnel network beneath the hospital. While it does not definitively prove that there is a command center beneath Gaza's largest hospital, it is evident that there is a tunnel below. Understanding the connections to this tunnel is of utmost importance.
A still from CCTV video released by the Israel Defense Forces that it says shows Hamas fighters bringing hostages into Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza on October 7.
Israel Defense Forces
video
IDF claims video shows hostages in Al-Shifa hospital
Israel's stakes are incredibly high in this situation. They have consistently stated, both in the short term and long term, that Hamas has constructed a network of terror infrastructure beneath the hospital. Israel's capability to carry on with the war in the midst of increasing international condemnation hinges greatly on their ability to substantiate this claim.
Hamas has consistently refuted the existence of any tunnels beneath Shifa hospital. Health officials, who have communicated with CNN, have echoed this sentiment and emphasized that the hospital serves solely as a medical facility.
As is so rarely the case in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this answer truly is black and white. Either there is an underground series of tunnels below the hospital. Or there is not.
