Please, After You

Live From the War in Israel Day 44

For the last 72 hours, the IDF has been painstakingly securing the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. Throughout this war, and before, Israel has been saying that this hospital was housing one of the main headquarters of Hamas in Northern Gaza. Israel has been trying very hard to minimize civilian casualties at the hospital, but there was never any doubt that at some point they would need to go in.

Israel has said, and the USA has confirmed, that this was a major target from the onset. It has been warning the doctors and civilians to leave but many did not. They said that some patients were too sick or that leaving might be too dangerous.

According to the Prime Minister, Israel received actionable intelligence that some of the 240 hostages were in the hospital, and so they made the decision to go in.

News media pounced at Israel's alleged cruelty. The BBC announced that Israel attacked the hospital only to retract that statement. The UN, WHO, Red Cross all condemned the action. Spain, France, and others said it was against international law.

Is this true?

International law is pretty clear on this. Hospitals, ambulances, schools, etc., are off-limits unless they are being used to conduct attacks. If that is the case, these places lose their protection.

That said even if it is a legitimate target, cynically being used by your enemy, you just don’t run into a hospital . Prior to Israel going into the hospital, everyone, especially the USA, warned Israel to be careful. National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan warned Israel that no one wants a firefight in a hospital. So, Israel methodically surrounded the hospital, carefully entered, (there have been no recorded gunfights in the hospital) and proceeded to give much-needed humanitarian aid to those there.

I have not heard of one instance that someone asked why, after Israel surrounded the hospital, did the people not leave or why, if there were no terrorists inside, the hospital even need to be surrounded. What was stopping the people from leaving? Were they scared that the Israelis would kill them as the whole world looked on? Today, Israel opened a humanitarian corridor for those who wanted to go. Guess what? Israel didn’t shoot any of the Gazans as they left.

Israel was not even 12 hours into the incursion before the world demanded proof of Israel's claims of a Hamas headquarters. Israel then shared what they had up until that point. They showed that they found weapons, uniforms, computers and one of the Israel hostages, murdered.

This was not enough. Where are the tunnels? Where is the command center? As if Israel is just going to run into any tunnel shaft (which they have started to uncover) just to prove to the world that it is telling the truth. Israel needs to provide this proof because Hamas says that there is no command center there and although they have been caught in many lies, this time they might be telling the truth. This even though Amnesty International said there was a headquarters in al-Shifa in 2014. This was also confirmed by one of the directors of USAID. Did Hamas move it for better accommodations?

How about the recent interview with a man in the hospital that Al-Jazeera conducted (which was cut off). They asked the man about the bombing; this was his response: "Reporter: 'But you were surprised by this bombing...' Man: 'Yes. It was not one house that was bombed. An entire compound was erased. Over 15 or 20 houses. Is this a humane act? No, this is a criminal act. As for the resistance – they come and hide among the people. Why are they hiding among the people? They can go to Hell, and hide there...'

Well said.

I am not sure how much evidence will satiate this need to prove Israel wrong. Since this is taking so long, and Israel has said it may take weeks to conclude, I have a suggestion. Since the media thinks that Israel, the USA, Amnesty, USAID and this poor Gazan man are lying, and since Israel feels that being careful is more important than rushing in to provide proof for reporters, I think the following will solve the issue. After the appropriate waivers are signed, let any newsperson from any news outlet go down the tunnel shafts and tell us what is there. I wouldn’t just send them in. That would be reckless. I would give them a flashlight and walkie-talkie. Then they can go down, right now if they like, today, and tell us if Israel is lying or not. It is important for the truth to come out as soon as possible.