IDF: Hamas using northern Gaza hospital as operational center, medical staff as human shields

The IDF released footage on Sunday that appears to show Hamas terrorists operating in the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, the northern Gaza Strip.According to the IDF, the footage shows how the terror group uses the hospital's grounds as an operations center.The military said that the footage shows that Hamas is still exploiting the presence of patients, medical staff, and civilians as human shields, which is a violation of international law."The hospital and its surrounding area have been used by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) over the past few years to advance terror plots against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers," the military said. "This was done while exploiting a medical facility and despite repeated calls by Israel and the IDF to refrain from the military use of medical facilities."Back in August, intelligence revealed that Hamas had established an ambush against IDF soldiers using a structure located some 70 meters from the hospital.The military struck the site, which was also located 50 meters away from the Yellow Line and 170 meters away from a school, and called it an example of Hamas's systematic use of civilian and humanitarian infrastructure.Operations during the war show weapons stored on hospital groundsThe IDF had already operated near the hospital in 2024 and 2025, with one of the operations showing that both Hamas and the PIJ used the site to store weapons and explosives.During another operation, the military captured Anas Muhammad Faiz al-Sharif near the hospital and transferred him to Israel for questioning. He later revealed how Hamas uses the hospital as a base for operations.He disclosed that the hospital grounds were used to transport equipment and weapons for launching attacks against Israeli forces. Sharif, 21, who joined Hamas in 2021, is one of 240 terrorists who were apprehended in the area surrounding the hospital.“Weapons were moved in and out of the hospital for ambushes and tunnels,” he said. The IDF emphasized that intelligence from these arrests has proven critical for ongoing operations.Sharif also said Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives believed the IDF would avoid targeting the hospital because of the presence of patients and civilians.“They believe the army can't bomb the location, like with an F-16 missile, or destroy the building,” he explained.The Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.