BBC News has discredited the claims made by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) concerning Hamas hideouts in Gaza’s Al Shifa hospital, currently under siege by Israeli forces.
Israel, responsible for more than 11,000 casualties in airstrikes, contends that Al Shifa functions as a primary center for Hamas terrorist activities. However, during a visit to the hospital, the BBC found discrepancies in the IDF’s assertions.
The IDF released animations and videos, purportedly showcasing a Hamas tunnel system beneath the hospital. Despite being in the hospital since Wednesday, Israel has yet to substantiate these claims.
The IDF selectively allowed the BBC and Fox News to film only at locations of Israel’s choosing within the hospital. Notably, the BBC highlighted that a video released by the IDF was edited and reposted after deletion. The altered video no longer included a section referencing an Israeli soldier held hostage.
In the video, the IDF claimed to have discovered military equipment in the hospital, but when the BBC visited the same room, the details did not align with the clips shown in the IDF’s presentation.
Israel explained the disparities by asserting that more weaponry and terrorist assets had been present throughout the day. The IDF maintains that their video was a single shot “without any edits,” but the BBC presenter questioned the reasons for the edit and its significance.
Despite accusations of manipulating the media, Israel has not provided evidence to support its claims about the presence of weapons in Al Shifa Hospital. Additionally, Israel’s insistence that Hamas is hiding in the hospital without concrete evidence raises questions about whether such proof exists or is being withheld.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert contradicted the IDF’s stance, stating in an interview with Euronews that the Hamas command center is situated in the south of Gaza, not in Al Shifa Hospital. According to Olmert, the real headquarters of Hamas is in Khan Younis, located in the southern part of the Gaza Strip, where they have leadership, bunkers, command positions, and launching pads.
