Gaza’s hospitals have emerged as a focal point in Israel’s war with Hamas, with each side citing how the other has pulled the facilities into the conflict as proof of the enemy’s disregard for the safety of civilians.
In four months of war, Israeli troops have entered several hospitals, including the Qatari Hospital, Kamal Adwan Hospital and Al-Rantisi Specialized Hospital for Children, to search for weapons and fighters. But Al-Shifa Hospital has taken on particular significance because it is Gaza’s largest medical facility, and because of Israel’s high-profile claims that Hamas leaders operated a command-and-control center beneath it. Hamas and the hospital’s staff, meanwhile, insisted it was only a medical center.
Regarding Al-Shifa hospital, there is video of Hamas taking some hostages inside, and widespread reporting of Hamas previously using part of the facility for interrogation/torture of civilians. That, in conjunction with the tunnel evidence, makes it a reasonable target for Israel to take control of (i.e. not a war crime). Personally I doubt the tunnel constitutes a command center. A method for discreetly bringing in captives makes more sense.