IDF claims it has found massive weapons hoard inside Gaza hospital MRI suite

15 November 2023 , 22:09

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IDF claims it has found massive weapons hoard inside Gaza hospital MRI suite

Hamas fighters used the MRI unit of a hospital to pile up weapons including Kalashnikovs, AK-47s and grenades, a video released by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) appears to show.

Special forces entered the Al Shifa Hospital complex in an early morning raid after US intelligence sources claimed the building was being used as a command centre by Hamas fighters. The mission led to a battle with over 100 commandos, 30 tanks and aerial drones from Israel killing five members of Hamas who were laying booby traps for the incoming troops, the IDF claimed.

IDF footage showed a massive weapons hoard in the hospital

Speaking of the alleged discovery, Israeli Defence Forces spokesman Lt-Col Jonathan Conricus claimed: “This totally confirms without a doubt that Hamas systematically uses hospitals in their military operations. What we have found is only the tip of the iceberg.

"These weapons have absolutely no business being inside a hospital. The only reason they are here is because Hamas put them here and they use this place like many other hospitals for their illicit military purposes.”

The hospital is functional and had earlier been pictured full of patients (AFP via Getty Images)

But Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry denies the allegations. A spokesperson said: "The Israeli occupation's claim that weapons are being stored at al-Shifa hospital is a blatant lie that should deceive nobody any longer.

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"The Zionist occupation's claim that it found weapons and military equipment at al Shifa medical complex is nothing but a continuation of its lies and cheap propaganda." White House officials said they had independent evidence showing Hamas used healthcare facilities for terror operations.

IDF footage also appeared to show Hamas body armour and grenades stashed in the hospital

A search of the hospital found proof it was used by Hamas, according to the IDF

National security spokesman John Kirby said of their findings: “That is a war crime.” Following their raid, an IDF spokesperson claimed: "As the soldiers entered the hospital complex, they engaged with a number of terrorists and killed them.

Following this, during searches in one of the departments of the hospital, the troops located a room with technological assets, along with military and combat equipment used by the Hamas terrorist organization. The IDF is continuing to operate in the hospital complex, while extracting intelligence information and preventing harm to the medical teams and civilians sheltering there."

Jake Loader