IDF Attacks Al Shifa Hospital Again In Gaza, US Highlights Israel's Strategy To Handle Hamas Groups

Jake Sullivan with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. (Source: Defense Ministry/Ariel Hermoni)

JAKARTA - United States National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said Israel's latest Defense Forces - IDF targeted Hamas at Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza, highlighting Washington's concern that Israel has no sustainable strategy in targeting the militant group.

"Israel has cleaned Shifa once. Hamas has returned to Shifa, which raises questions about how to ensure a sustainable campaign against Hamas so that they cannot regenerate, cannot retake the region," Sullivan told a news conference. March 19.

Washington is known to have long judged Israel failed to pose a viable alternative to the Hamas administration, rejecting efforts to promote local Palestinians connected to the Palestinian Authority with the support of Arab allies to fill the void created by the Israeli's initial disbandment of the militant group.

On the other hand, PM Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to empower local clan leaders who have no ties to PA (Palestinian Authority) or Hamas, to facilitate aid distribution and ultimately rule the Gaza Strip. However, there is no indication this strategy was successful.

In various places in northern Gaza, Hamas activity has bounced back in recent weeks, as IDF reports ask political leaders to make clearer and more realistic decisions regarding postwar management of Gaza or risk wasting military profits.

"From our point of view, this connects Israel's goals with sustainable strategies. That is the last thing we need to focus on right now, rather than letting Israel destroy Rafah. That's what the president and the prime minister talked about today," Sullivan said, referring to a telephone conversation by President Joe Biden with PM Netanyahu yesterday.

However, he defended aspects of Israel's latest operations at Al Shifa Hospital by stating the IDF was pursuing senior Hamas commanders and "it is clear that Hamas retaliated against Israeli attacks from the hospital."

Sullivan also reiterated that Hamas continues to use civilian infrastructure "to store weapons, to command and control, as well as to accommodate fighters."

"This puts an additional burden on Israel that few military, entrenched insurgencies, terrorist groups that use civilian institution shields to protect themselves during fighting, rather than confronting Israel on open battlefields," he added.

Earlier, the Israeli military raided the Al Shifa Hospital complex in Gaza, Palestine on Monday morning, saying it killed more than 20 gunmen in an operation that Palestinian health authorities said caused heavy casualties and sparked a severe fire in one of the buildings.

Special forces, backed by infantry and tanks, carried out "precise operations" based on intelligence, the hospital was again used by Hamas leaders and fired down when they entered the compound, the military said.

"We have arrested more than 200 terrorist suspects and are currently being interrogated. We have killed more than 20 people inside the hospital complex," said IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel

Furthermore, Laksda Badminton also revealed that one Israeli soldier was killed in the incident.

"Hamas is trying to rebuild its base in the hospital and use it as a shelter for fleeing terrorists. We will not allow this and continue to attack any place that Hamas is trying to return its grip," explained Laksdawi.