Israel reveals Hamas tunnel network directly beneath Gaza hospital’s emergency room, confirming a strategic military compound and the death of a top Hamas commander.
At a Glance
- The IDF discovered an extensive Hamas tunnel network beneath the European Hospital in Gaza where they found the body of Mohammed Sinwar, a senior Hamas leader
- The tunnel complex served as a major command and control center for Hamas, positioned directly under the hospital’s emergency room
- Israeli forces recovered weapons, ammunition, cash, and intelligence documents from the compound
- Media coverage of the tunnel discovery reflects deeply divided perspectives, with The New York Times initially doubting its existence before confirmation
- The tunnel discovery highlights Hamas’s continued use of civilian infrastructure for military operations
Hamas Command Center Found Under Hospital
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have released footage revealing an extensive underground tunnel network beneath the European Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Military officials confirmed the discovery included a major Hamas command and control compound located directly under the hospital’s emergency room. The complex tunnel system demonstrates Hamas’s ongoing strategy of embedding military infrastructure within civilian facilities, a tactic Israel has consistently highlighted throughout the conflict. The revelation comes after Israeli forces conducted a targeted operation at the site, where they also recovered the body of Mohammed Sinwar, a high-ranking Hamas leader and brother of Yahya Sinwar.
Brigadier General Effie Defrin, an IDF spokesman, emphasized the strategic significance of the discovery: “This is another example of the cynical use by Hamas, using civilians as human shields, using civilian infrastructure, hospitals, again and again.” The operation resulted in the recovery of weapons, ammunition, cash, and documents that Israeli officials claim will provide valuable intelligence. The military stated they specifically planned the operation to avoid damaging the hospital while targeting the underground complex, highlighting the tactical challenges Israel faces when confronting Hamas’s use of civilian sites.
EXCLUSIVE RAW FOOTAGE: Watch IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari walk through one of Hamas' subterranean terrorist tunnels—only to exit in Gaza's Rantisi hospital on the other side.
Inside these tunnels, Hamas terrorists hide, operate and hold Israeli hostages against their… pic.twitter.com/Nx4lVrvSXH
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 13, 2023
Key Hamas Leaders Eliminated
Israeli forces confirmed that Mohammed Sinwar, head of Hamas in Gaza, was killed during the operation targeting the tunnel network. His body was recovered alongside that of Mohammad Shabana, commander of Hamas’s Rafah Brigade, and other militants. DNA evidence confirmed Sinwar’s identity, validating earlier announcements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about his death. Mohammed Sinwar held significant importance as the brother of Yahya Sinwar, one of the architects of the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that sparked the current conflict.
“We found underneath the hospital, right under the emergency room, a compound of a few rooms. In one of them we found, we killed Mohammed Sinwar,” stated Brigadier General Effie Defrin.
Shabana, described as a senior Hamas commander, played a crucial role in constructing tunnel networks used for military operations throughout Gaza. The elimination of these key figures represents a significant blow to Hamas’s leadership structure and operational capabilities. Israeli military officials have maintained that dismantling Hamas’s command structure remains a primary objective of their ongoing operations in Gaza, despite international pressure regarding civilian casualties and humanitarian concerns.
Media Coverage and Competing Narratives
The New York Times’ reporting on the Hamas tunnel beneath the European Gaza Hospital illustrates the deeply divided perspectives on the conflict. Initially, the newspaper cited hospital officials who doubted the tunnel’s existence before eventually confirming its reality. The reporting framed the tunnel discovery as a “Rorschach test” of competing narratives, where Israelis view it as evidence of Hamas’s exploitation of civilians, while Palestinians interpret Israel’s targeting of the site as demonstrating disregard for civilian infrastructure.
The revelation of the tunnel network adds to a growing body of evidence that Hamas has systematically used hospitals, schools, and other civilian facilities for military purposes. Similar tunnel networks have been discovered beneath other medical facilities and United Nations installations. This pattern reinforces Israel’s justification for operations in these sensitive areas while also highlighting the complex ethical dilemmas facing military planners. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 54,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza health authorities, with the United Nations warning of potential famine conditions for Gaza’s civilian population.
