Israeli military officials claimed on Monday night that they had discovered a basement in Rantisi Hospital in Gaza City where Hamas terrorists had held children hostage. According to Israeli commanders, troops who entered the hospital found baby bottles, nappies, chairs with rope, and a motorbike similar to those used by Hamas to transport captives from previous raids into Israel. In addition to makeshift toilets and curtains used for filming possible hostage videos, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) also alleged that they found weapons and suicide bomb vests.
Daniel Hagari, the senior spokesman for the IDF, presented images of the hospital basement after personally visiting it. He stated that while the investigation was ongoing, all indications pointed to the basement being used as a holding area for hostages. The whereabouts of any prisoners were currently unknown. Hagari condemned Hamas for using hostages as human shields and called it a war crime against international law.
It should be noted that the IDF’s claims have not been independently verified. Meanwhile, Hamas reportedly informed Qatari mediators that they were willing to release up to 70 women and children hostages in exchange for a five-day Israeli ceasefire. Furthermore, Hamas released footage claiming to show a female Israeli military hostage who was allegedly killed in an Israeli airstrike on November 9. The footage included a pre-recorded statement from the hostage pleading for her release, as well as footage of her deceased body.
In response to the situation, US President Joe Biden called for the protection of Gaza’s largest hospital, Al-Shifa, and urged Israeli forces to take “less intrusive action.” The hospital currently has hundreds of patients trapped inside while heavy fighting continues between Israeli troops and Hamas forces in the vicinity.
