UN Human Rights Chief Urges Unbiased Inquiry into Allegations Surrounding Al-Shifa Hospital
The UN Human Rights chief urges Israel to grant access to Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City for an independent investigation Israel's military released a video claiming an operational tunnel shaft within the hospital complex, a claim dismissed by Hamas and medical administrators as ridiculous
The United Nations human rights chief has urged Israel to allow his team to visit Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. This request came after the Israeli military shared a video claiming to show a Hamas "operational tunnel shaft" within the hospital grounds, a statement quickly dismissed by the militant group and medical administrators as "absurd." Released on Thursday, the video depicts a hole in the ground and a reinforced concrete shaft with visible pipes and cables.
At one point, the video, which has been geolocated by CNN, tilts up to reveal one of the hospitals main buildings about 30 meters away from the hole.
The video does not show the inside of the shaft.
Israel has faced considerable international pressure to substantiate its allegations regarding Hamas' alleged infiltration of the hospital. CNN is unable to authenticate Israel's assertion that the image indeed depicts a Hamas tunnel.
During a televised briefing on Thursday, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari confirmed that army engineers are currently engaged in the ongoing effort to uncover the tunnel infrastructure.
The UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, urged Israel to allow impartial investigators to visit Gaza and investigate the conflicting claims. Türk stated on Thursday that an independent international investigation was necessary due to the varying narratives. He emphasized that using hospitals for military purposes was unacceptable, but attacking a hospital without concrete evidence was also unjustifiable.
The video released by the IDF shows what Israel claims is an 'operational tunnel shaft' in the grounds of the Al-Shifa hospital complex.
The video was released while Israeli troops carried out targeted operations within and around the hospital complex, as described by an IDF spokesperson.
Israel has continuously launched airstrikes on Gaza, a densely populated and economically disadvantaged region, following the October 7 assault by Hamas militants on Israeli territory.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Ramallah, Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of 11,470 individuals in Gaza. Among them, 4,707 were children, as stated by medical sources within the Hamas-controlled enclave.
Türk stated that both Israel and Hamas should be subjected to investigation for their actions following the militant group's massacre of around 1,200 individuals on October 7.
"The actions carried out by Hamas, which involved the brutal killing of innocent civilians and the taking of hostages, are undeniably in violation of the law. Additionally, Israel's punishment of Gaza by restricting access to essential supplies such as medical resources, food, electricity, and water, is a grave matter that warrants attention under international humanitarian law," stated Türk.
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"There are indeed significant issues that we all need to address, as they are very serious and demand answers and accountability," he stated. Türk emphasized that hospitals always have special protection under humanitarian law.
Türk emphasized the importance of providing special protection for hospitals, medical facilities, and medical personnel. Effective communication and special provisions are needed for evacuations and the care of the wounded and injured.
Israel and the United States have accused Hamas of operating a command center beneath the hospital in Gaza. There is pressure on Israel to uncover evidence of a multi-layered network of tunnels and chambers that officials claim exist beneath the hospital.
Hamas's government media office dismisses Israel's assertion regarding the tunnel shaft as an "absurd scenario," stating that Israel is disseminating "deceptive accounts, concocted narratives, and distorted facts" regarding the hospital.
Al-Shifa hospital and surroundings in Gaza on November 7.
Maxar Technologies/AP/File
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"It is a failed attempt to escape future accountability and legal pursuit," the Hamas statement said.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health has made numerous requests for various institutions, organizations, international bodies, and relevant parties to establish technical teams that can conduct visits and inspections of all hospitals. The purpose of these visits is to disprove the false narrative of incitement.
Meanwhile, Israel has announced the discovery of the body of 65-year-old Yehudit Weiss, a grandmother who was abducted from a kibbutz near the Gaza Strip during the attack by Hamas militants on October 7.
The IDF declared on Friday morning that it had successfully retrieved the remains of a second Israeli captive, Noa Marciano, a 19-year old corporal serving in the Israel Defense Forces. According to IDF reports, the bodies were discovered in "structures" close to the Shifa hospital, although it remains unclear whether they were found in close proximity to each other. Moreover, the exact circumstances leading to the demise of both individuals have not been adequately clarified.
Israeli forces conducted a raid on Al-Shifa on Wednesday morning and subsequently released photographs displaying firearms, body armor, and a laptop they purportedly discovered at the hospital, containing incriminating content.
The IDF additionally asserted on Thursday that they discovered a car rigged with explosives in the hospital compound, housing a significant quantity of weaponry and ammunition.
The IDF on Thursday released an image of what it said were weapons recovered from inside Al-Shifa hospital.
Inside Al-Shifa on Thursday, there were thousands of medical personnel, patients, and displaced individuals who were facing dire conditions described by doctors as "catastrophic." The scarcity of food, water, and medical supplies had taken a toll.
The Gaza Strip's largest hospital is currently nonfunctional due to a complete depletion of fuel. Reports from doctors and journalists revealed a grim situation earlier this week, with efforts to save premature babies and a limited number of procedures conducted by the flicker of candlelight.
According to Mohammad Abu Salmiya, the hospital director, the situation is dire, with children facing starvation. The medical staff has been compelled to make excruciating decisions, including amputating limbs of patients to hinder the spread of infections resulting from untreated wounds.
Al-Rantisi Hospital claims
Abu Salmiya disclosed that a kidney patient had passed away, while an additional four individuals were teetering on the edge of death as a result of their critical conditions and the lack of dialysis for several days. He accused Israel of imposing a blockade on the hospital, sabotaging specific areas, and freely moving about within the facility for the past 48 hours.
In another update, Hagari of the IDFs reported on Thursday that a tunnel had been discovered by soldiers at the Al-Rantisi children's hospital in northern Gaza.
On Monday, a CNN team accompanied the IDF within the hospital premises, where they were presented with firearms and explosives located in a basement area referred to as an "armory" by Hagari.
CNN was presented with evidence of a nearby shaft, situated approximately 200 meters away from Al-Rantisi. The individual responsible, Hagari, alleged that this shaft was in close proximity to a residence belonging to a Hamas commander and a school. The IDF stated that they were actively investigating any potential connection between this tunnel entrance and the hospital.
Contrary to these claims, Mohammed Zarqout, a high-ranking health official in the Hamas-controlled area, informed CNN that the basement at Al-Rantisi was utilized as a refuge for women and children, rather than for storing Hamas weaponry or holding hostages. Additionally, he asserted that the tunnel served as an "electrical wire assembly point."
CNN cannot confirm the assertions made by the IDF and Zarqout regarding Al-Rantisi hospital.
Spokesperson John Kirby of the US National Security Council reiterated the White House's previous statements on Wednesday, stating that the US possessed intelligence indicating that Hamas was conducting operations in Al-Shifa Hospital.
Kirby affirmed that he had full confidence in our intelligence assessment regarding the extent to which Hamas has been using al-Shifa hospital as both a command and control hub, as well as an underground storage facility.
