Hospitals in Gaza reported that they no longer function as hospitals but as battlegrounds as Hamas systematically misuses these facilities for their military operations.

CNN sent a list to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), asking if attacks have been made on hospitals.

The IDF made it clear that no attacks have been made on hospitals.

In fact, Hamas has been responsible for continuous bombardments, power outages, and supply shortages in the hospitals located in Gaza.

This led to around 20 out of 22 hospitals being damaged by Hamas within a 2-month period, between October and December.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) received reports that Hamas has been directly attacking the hospitals as seen via satellite and eyewitnesses.

Israel stated that Hamas is now operating in the hospitals and using them for military operations; however, Hamas rejected this claim.

The military operations conducted by Hamas vary.

Operations were conducted for command centres, weapon stores, hostage hideouts, and many others.

The IDF has provided exact images that could be evidence of how Hamas uses hospitals in their operations: the forces found photos and videos of Al-Shifa Hospital’s interior and an armed man outside Al-Quds Hospital.

Misuse and shutdown of hospitals bring concern to the civilians who have relied on hospitals for their health.

Some civilians were revealed to be relying on the hospitals for their shelter and care: in fact, they now need hospitals more than ever since more casualties and injuries are occurring.

For instance, there were three pediatric hospitals that operated in Gaza; however, constant attacks on and around them led these hospitals to close.

Similarly, the hospitals that solely performed cancer and psychiatric treatment also ceased their operations and closed, causing cancer patients to fall into bewilderment.

The injured patients who could not be moved claimed that they would rather die than keep their lives hopeless and miserable.

People around the world criticized this scenery, saying that what should be protected is currently bombed, encircled, and shot at by tanks, making these hospitals lose their capabilities to treat and care for patients.

Now, after observing this scene, the IDF has decided to attack some of the facilities, including Al-Quds Hospital, to fight against Hamas.

It will conduct precise planning and attack in order to minimize any damage to civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Israel mandated the civilians and patients to evacuate before attacking, but the patients revealed difficulties in evacuation as it could further risk their lives.

For instance, 12,000 displaced people could not move long distances and 500 babies in incubators also could not be moved to a place with no incubator systems.

This caused difficulties for the IDF to perfectly attack Al-Quds.

However, they constantly gave evacuation warnings, striking and bombarding next to Al-Quds in order to force people to evacuate.

By forcing civilians out of hospitals, the IDF will be better able to attack Hamas, safely protecting the public.

Doyeon Kim

Grade 11

Cornerstone Collegiate Academy of Seoul