The Israeli army has released a video that it claims is the first evidence of a sophisticated tunnel network under the Gaza City’s Dar al-Shifa hospital complex, used by Hamas, the terrorist group from Palestine.

In a statement on Sunday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) showed a tunnel shaft, about 10 metres long, followed by a circular staircase leading to a 55-metre-long tunnel. The tunnel ends at a blast-proof door, which the Israeli army is yet to cross.

The IDF has been telling the world the truth about the Shifa Hospital.

The operation is ongoing and is being conducted carefully, all in order to locate and dismantle Hamas infrastructure in the hospital.Still don’t believe us? See for yourselves the evidence shown by IDF… pic.twitter.com/4H9hWJpnID— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 19, 2023

Israel’s charge has been that Hamas has been using the al-Shifa hospital complex as a command centre for its operations. While the claims of a tunnel under the hospital were made earlier, this is the first time Israel is showcasing what it claims to be evidence.

However, Mounir el-Boursh, the Gaza health ministry director, has dismissed Israel’s claim and described it as a “pure lie”.

At least 40 people, including eight babies, have died at al-Shifa hospital since the Israeli attack. These deaths were caused by a lack of electricity to operate life-saving equipment such as incubators and dialysis machines, according to the United Nations.

More than 13,000 people have reportedly been killed since Israel started its retaliation on Gaza, after the attack by Hamas terrorists on Israel on October 7. In Israel, the official death toll in Hamas’s attacks stands at about 1,200.

Hamas took about 240 hostages during its October 7, who are yet to be released and the negotiations are underway.

(Edited by : Amrita)

First Published:Nov 20, 2023 10:05 AM IST