Hamas, the militant group in control of the Gaza Strip, has been exposed for using civilian infrastructure for its terrorist activities, as highlighted by revelations from the manager of a northern Gaza hospital. Ahmed al-Kahlout, manager of the Kamal Adnan Hospital, admitted during an interrogation with Israeli security forces that Hamas strategically employs medical facilities to advance its military operations.
Al-Kahlout disclosed that 16 hospital employees, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and clerks, also held various positions within the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas. According to his testimony, these individuals deliberately hide in hospitals, exploiting the perceived safety of these locations to avoid being targeted.
The Kamal Adnan Hospital, situated in the Jabaliya neighborhood of northern Gaza, was revealed to have served as more than just a medical facility. Al-Kahlout detailed Hamas’ infiltration, explaining the existence of offices for senior officials, holding areas for kidnapped individuals, and designated spaces for interrogations, internal security, and special forces. He further emphasized that hospital premises contained private phone lines for Hamas members.
Al-Kahlout’s admission extended to his own history, revealing that he was recruited to Hamas in 2010 with the rank of Brigadier General. His account exposes the dual roles of medical professionals within the organization and sheds light on the manipulation of hospital facilities for militant purposes.
This revelation comes amid increased scrutiny of Gaza’s medical infrastructure, with Al-Kahlout having been quoted extensively in global media outlets as a source on the state of healthcare in the region. Following his detainment by the Israeli military, the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry demanded his release, urging international organizations such as the UN, World Health Organization, and Red Cross to intervene.
In a related development, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) released footage in November from the al-Shifa Hospital complex, the largest in Gaza, exposing a tunnel system built by Hamas. The videos, verified by The New York Times, reveal a fortified spiral staircase leading underground, emphasizing the use of hospital grounds for military purposes.
The IDF contends that such tunnel systems and fortified doors within hospitals serve to block Israeli forces from accessing command centers and underground assets belonging to Hamas. Additionally, CCTV footage released by the IDF showed Hamas using al-Shifa Hospital to transport hostages, highlighting the exploitation of healthcare facilities for both military and hostage-related activities by the militant group.
