As tensions escalate between Israel and Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have accused the Palestinian terror group of utilizing hospitals as underground headquarters in the Gaza Strip. In particular, the IDF has pointed to Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza City's largest medical facility, alleging that it houses Hamas' key command center and serves as a launching pad for its operations.

According to a statement by IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Al Shifa Hospital is said to contain several entrances leading to an underground complex utilized by Hamas leadership. The IDF has claimed that after the massacres on October 7, hundreds of terrorists sought refuge inside the hospital. It also accused Hamas of using the energy reserves of Al Shifa to power its terrorist infrastructure, while other medical facilities in Gaza face fuel shortages.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant described Gaza as "the biggest terrorist base ever built by man," highlighting the interconnected network of tunnels that connect hospitals, schools, and other civilian structures. While Hamas has rejected these claims, Avi Issacharoff, a former member of an IDF unit, stated that the presence of an underground headquarters beneath Al Shifa Hospital is an open secret known even to children in Gaza.

In recent days, Israel has launched airstrikes targeting Al Shifa Hospital, including an attack on its solar panels, which affected its power supply, according to Al Jazeera. Last week, an Israeli strike outside the hospital hit an ambulance, resulting in the deaths of at least 15 people, as reported by Palestinian officials.

Aside from Al Shifa, the IDF has accused other medical facilities in Gaza, including the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia, of harboring Hamas operatives. The IDF released evidence of tunnels allegedly existing in these hospitals, implicating them in Hamas' terror activities. However, Indonesia's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the accusation, reaffirming that the Indonesian Hospital was solely built for humanitarian purposes.

The IDF's announcement raises questions about how the tunnels within these hospitals will be targeted without endangering the lives of civilians. Hospital officials have expressed their refusal to evacuate the facilities due to the high number of critically ill patients and refugees seeking shelter there. Despite repeated warnings from the IDF, airstrikes continue to hit some medical facilities in Gaza.

The IDF has revealed plans to deploy "sponge bombs," a new weapon designed to seal off tunnels, hindering Hamas operatives' movement. These bombs consist of chemical compounds that expand and harden upon detonation, restricting passage within the tunnels.

As the conflict between Israel and Hamas intensifies, the allegations made by the IDF regarding the use of hospitals as underground headquarters add another layer of complexity to the ongoing hostilities. The IDF maintains that Hamas systematically exploits hospitals as part of its war machine, while Hamas denies these claims as an Israeli pretext to target civilian enclaves.

With the situation unfolding, international attention remains focused on Gaza, as the humanitarian crisis deepens and concerns grow for the safety of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.