Finding Signs that Hamas is Holding Hostages in Hospitals, Israeli Military: We Are Investigating

JAKARTA - The Israeli military shared videos and photos showing what it said were weapons stored by Hamas in the basement of a children's hospital in Gaza on Monday, where they also said hostages appeared to be being held there.

Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said his troops had discovered a command center with an arsenal of weapons including grenades, suicide vests and other explosives stored by Hamas fighters in the basement of Rantissi Hospital, a children's hospital that specializes in treating cancer patients.

"And we also found signs that indicate Hamas is taking hostages here," he said in a televised press conference, reported by Reuters, November 14.

"We are currently investigating this. However, we also have intelligence that verifies it," continued Admiral Hagari.

Furthermore, he showed footage of a seemingly modest residence, including a small kitchen, as well as a nearby tunnel, which he said led to the home of a senior Hamas naval commander.

"Hamas controls this entire region and is waging war against Israel from this hospital," he said.

In addition, troops found a motorbike with gunshot marks that they said appeared to have been used to transport hostages to Gaza, following the October 7 attack by the militant group Hamas.

It is known that Israel accused Hamas of using hospitals and other civilian infrastructure to hide command centers and weapons positions, as well as using civilians and hospital patients as human shields.

In response, Hamas and hospital authorities in Gaza denied that health facilities had been used in such a way. There was no immediate comment from Hamas regarding Israel's latest statement.