“Hamas’ Tunnel Network Under Gaza Hospitals: What We Know So Far”
Recent months have seen serious allegations by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) concerning extensive tunnel networks built by Hamas underneath civilian infrastructure in Gaza, including hospitals. Central among these accusations is the claim that a major underground command and control facility was constructed beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. The claims are controversial, and understanding them requires sifting through various reports, denials, and evidentiary gaps.
Key Allegations
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Tunnel Beneath European Hospital
The IDF states that beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis there was a concealed tunnel complex used by Hamas. This subterranean network allegedly included command rooms, intelligence-gathering facilities, and other military infrastructure. -
Death of Senior Leaders
According to Israeli sources, bodies including that of Mohammed Sinwar (a prominent Hamas leader), Mohammad Shabana, and other militants were found in or around the tunnel system under the hospital. -
Use of Civilian Infrastructure for Military Purposes
The IDF claims that Hamas used civilian buildings, including hospitals, as protection (human shields), and to conceal operations. The claim suggests that these tunnels allowed Hamas to hide among civilians and evade detection.
What’s Contested / What’s Unclear
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Independent Verification
Although the IDF has provided video footage and tours for select media, some outlets (for example, BBC) reported that they could not independently verify that tunnels or particular chambers were indeed directly beneath hospital wards, or that the claimed entrances/access points connected internal hospital areas. -
Location Details and Structure
The precise depth, layout, and exact relationship between hospital structures and the tunnel complex are matters of dispute. Some reporting indicates that while tunnels exist and are near or under hospital grounds, the documentation for how integrated they are with hospital operations or wards is not always conclusive. -
Hamas’ Response
Hamas has in some instances denied or questioned claims about tunnels under hospitals. They have argued that such allegations are used to justify military strikes on civilian facilities.
Context & Implications
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International Law & Human Shields
If true, using hospitals for military infrastructure, or embedding tunnels beneath hospitals, raises serious questions under international humanitarian law. Civilian facilities are protected unless they are used for military purposes. The notion of using civilian infrastructure for military advantage complicates both the legal and ethical dimensions of conflict. -
Media, Verification, Propaganda
Both sides have strong incentives—Israel to defend its military actions, and Hamas to counter what it calls propaganda. This means that every claim demands rigorous independent verification wherever possible. -
Human Cost
Regardless of the tunnels’ existence or scale, there are heavy human stakes: civilian lives, hospital functionality, access to medical care. Any damage to hospitals—not to mention the fear among civilians—has serious humanitarian consequences.
What We Can Do & What to Watch
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Look out for full, uncut footage made available to impartial media, not just selected tours.
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Watch reports by international observers, NGOs, and UN investigators.
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Monitor hospital access: how strikes or operations affect medical services.
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Check forensic evidence, such as DNA verification of claimed bodies (as in the case of Sinwar) and physical layout maps.
In summary, the claims about Hamas’ tunnels under hospitals are serious and have potential legal, moral, and humanitarian implications. There is credible reporting supporting at least some of these allegations—particularly the tunnel under the European Hospital and the discovery of Hamas command infrastructure there—but there are also significant questions remaining about exactly how and where those tunnels link to civilian hospital spaces. The story is still developing, and it’s important to approach it critically, verifying what can be independently confirmed.