British doctor who worked at Gaza’s Al Shifa hospital says he was warned there were areas where he would be shot by Hamas if he entered
- A British doctor says he was warned about several no-go areas in Al Shifa
- The anonymous doctor said he saw ‘dodgy-looking’ people in the areas
- LIVE: Israeli Defence Force tanks move in on Indonesia Hospital in Gaza
A British doctor who used to work at Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital has revealed there were ‘no-go areas’ in the building where he ‘would be shot’ if he went.
The building has long been claimed by Israel to be a hiding place for terror group Hamas, with a command-and-control centre reportedly under the structure in a series of tunnels.
On Sunday, the Israel Defence Forces said they had found a 55 m long tunnel at the hospital, where four days ago they also recovered the body of two hostages kidnapped in last month’s bloody blitz.
Hamas has denied the hospital is used as a base but the doctor, who asked to remain anonymous told France 24 l he had worked there for three months in 2021.
He said: ’When I was first asked to work there [at Shifa], I was told there was a part of the hospital I was not to go near, and if I did, I’d be in danger of being shot.’
Hamas has denied the hospital is used as a base but the doctor said: ’When I was first asked to work there [at Shifa], I was told there was a part of the hospital I was not to go near, and if I did, I’d be in danger of being shot’
(File picture) The anonymous doctor said: ‘I stayed away, but I saw a few dodgy-looking non-medical characters going in and out all the time’
Israel has attacked the area around Al Shifa for weeks, claiming that Hamas is holed up underneath the hospital
READ MORE: Israeli troops move in on another Gaza hospital where thousands have been sheltering for weeks as IDF focuses on clearing out medical facilities ‘Hamas are using for cover’
When asked was it explained why, the man, who spoke in a Home Counties accent, said: ’No, but implicit was that it was being used for non-medical purposes.
He added: ’I stayed away, but I saw a few dodgy-looking non-medical characters going in and out all the time.
‘It was a ward leading to a basement. As I said, I didn’t go there; so I behaved myself.’
He went on: ’I was welcome everywhere else, and as I say the doctors and nurses there were very welcoming and very kind and the hushed tones under which this was said was very consistent with all the other hushed tones with which Hamas was discussed.
‘You know people were genuinely fearful. I cannot emphasise too much, the air of collective paranoia that existed there.
‘If hospital staff were 10% frightened of possible Israeli airstrikes, they were 90% frightened of being persecuted by Hamas.’
The IDF claimed that it found several weapon stashes in Al Shifa, which lies in the heart of Gaza
An Italian journalist who visited the site previously said: ’Shifa is a very large compound. I got lost inside it, and at some point I ended up on an underground floor, and I found myself in front of two armed Hamas men in military attire, who told me to get out’
‘Several Palestinian sources I spoke with later on confirmed that Hamas’ command and control centre was located under Shifa Hospital,’ the Italian journalist said
READ MORE: Israel releases footage of drone exploring ‘huge 55m-long Hamas tunnel under al-Shifa hospital’ amid hopes a ceasefire deal to release hostages and allow aid into Gaza could soon be struck
In footage released by the IDF on Sunday, a tunnel under the hospital – where guns and ammunition have also been discovered – led to a bomb-proof blast door which has yet to be breached.
An Italian journalist who visited the hospital in 2009 after Israel’s Operation Cast Lead against Hamas told local media they had seen a similar door.
They said: ’Shifa is a very large compound. I got lost inside it, and at some point I ended up on an underground floor, and I found myself in front of two armed Hamas men in military attire, who told me to get out.
‘I got the impression they were guarding a security door that gave access to their underground infrastructure.
‘Several Palestinian sources I spoke with later on confirmed that Hamas’ command and control centre was located under Shifa Hospital and that [Hamas leader] Ismail Haniyeh had been hiding there throughout the duration of Operation Cast Lead.’
In footage released by the IDF on Sunday, a tunnel under the hospital – where guns and ammunition have also been discovered – led to a bomb-proof blast door which has yet to be breached
The hospital has been subjected to intense military attacks by the IDF, who on Sunday allowed the evacuation of 31 premature babies to Egypt
The Hamas run health ministry says more than 13,000 people have died in Israel’s military operation
Announcing he discovery of the tunnels, the Israel Defence Forces said they had been ‘telling the truth’ and posted video on their official website inviting readers to ‘have a look at the evidence’ for themselves.
Also included in the footage were clips of two hostages – a Nepalese and Thai man – who were taken by Hamas terrorists on October 7 and doctors and medical staff can be seen in the background.
Although the faces in the video – time stamped just a few hours after the October 7 attacks – issued were blurred Israel said it had ‘notified the appropriate authorities’ about the men.
The hospital has been subjected to intense military attacks by the IDF, who on Sunday allowed the evacuation of 31 premature babies to Egypt.
The Hamas run health ministry says more than 13,000 people have died in Israel’s military operation and that several schools being used as shelters, and hospitals have been hit.
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