Israel's defence minister Yoav Gallant has claimed that Hamas had lost control in the Gaza Strip, as its troops are headed to fully capture Gaza City. Gallant's statement comes as Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Golani brigade members were photographed with Israeli flags inside Hamas’s parliament building.
"There is no force of Hamas capable of stopping the IDF. The IDF is advancing at every location. The Hamas organisation has lost control in Gaza. Terrorists are fleeing south, civilians are looting Hamas bases. They have no confidence in the government," Gallant was quoted by The Times of Israel.
Despite U.S. President Joe Biden's statement that hospitals in the Gaza Strip must be protected, the IDF said its forces raided Gaza City’s Rantisi Hospital, which treats children. The IDF claims Hamas operatives have been holed up there and there was evidence indicating hostages were held there.
"Underneath the hospital, in the basement, we found a Hamas command and control centre, suicide-bomb vests, grenades, AK-47 assault rifles, explosive devices, RPGs, and other weapons, computers, money, etc," IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said.
The military also published footage of an incident which shows a group of gunmen firing at the troops from another Gaza City hospital. According to the IDF, they were fired at from Al-Quds Hospital in Gaza City on Monday. "The cell at the hospital opened fire at troops of the 188th Armored Brigade with light arms and RPGs, while embedded within a group of civilians at the entrance," according to the IDF.
What could these Hamas terrorists possibly be doing with an RPG at the Quds Hospital? pic.twitter.com/Ajpnz0Hf4Q
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) November 13, 2023
Israel claims Hamas has command centres under hospitals in Gaza and is using the civilians there, including patients, as human shields.
This comes as Biden on Monday said he hoped for "less intrusive" action by Israel. On the situation at Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza City's main medical centre, Biden said: "My hope and expectation is that there will be less intrusive action relative to hospitals and we remain in contact with the Israelis," Biden told reporters at the White House on Monday.
"Also there is an effort to get this pause to deal with the release of prisoners and that's being negotiated, as well, with the Qataris ... being engaged," he added. "So I remain somewhat hopeful but hospitals must be protected."
The hospital had stopped functioning after running out of fuel amid the IDF seige. Israel claims Al-Shifa sits atop tunnels housing a headquarters for Hamas fighters. Hamas denies the Israeli claim.
Though the IDF had "initiated a humanitarian effort to coordinate the transfer of incubators" from Israel to Al Shifa, none of the facilities were reportedly received by the hospital. The Al-Shifa officials and Hamas did not respond to the statement.
