Israeli Army Shows Footage Allegedly of Foreign Hostages in Gaza Hospital

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Nov 20, 2023

Image copyright: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images News via Getty Imagesstory last updated Nov 20, 2023

The Facts

Israel’s military released video footage on Sunday allegedly showing two foreign hostages being taken into Gaza’s al-Shifa Hospital, the strip's largest, during Hamas's Oct. 7 surprise attack. The army also said on Sunday that it had found a tunnel complex near the hospital, which could not be independently verified. [Israel has repeatedly claimed that al-Shifa was being used as a Hamas command center, something both the group and doctors at the hospital have denied; Hamas did not immediately comment on the claims although the group has admitted in the past that it took some hostages to hospitals for treatment.]
The Israeli military also claimed that Cp. Noa Marciano, one of the over 200 people taken hostage on Oct. 7, had been killed by Hamas, who had claimed that she had been killed in an Israeli airstrike.

The Spin

Pro-Israel narrative

Israel has presented evidence that terrorists from Hamas have placed their headquarters underneath hospitals in Gaza, specifically to use civilians at the facilities as human shields. Indeed, the US has also verified that Hamas is using al-Shifa as a command center. Despite this, Israel, which has the right to defend its borders, is doing everything it can to minimize harm to the civilian population and provide aid while conducting critical military operations.

Jerusalem Post

Pro-Palestine narrative

Even if Israel's claims that Hamas is using hospitals as bases of operations are valid, it has an obligation under international law to protect these facilities during armed conflict. As Israel is committing horrendous human rights violations in Gaza, the international community must step up efforts to end the assault on Palestinians and work to address a humanitarian cataclysm.