JERUSALEM — Israeli Health Minister Uriel Bosso has denounced the World Health Organization (WHO) for failing to recognize Hamas’ use of hospitals for terror purposes, after the Israel Defense Forces released footage on Nov. 19 showing Hamas activity at Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
In a Nov. 20 letter co-signed by Health Ministry Director General Moshe Bar Siman Tov, Bosso cited statements by Michael Ryan, the executive director of WHO’s health emergencies program, who said on Nov. 2 that he doubted terrorist activities were taking place at the hospital.
“Despite this, yesterday the IDF published documentation from closed-circuit cameras that clearly indicates terrorist activities [at the hospital] . . . In light of this evidence, it is clear that the description given by Dr. Michael Ryan of what was happening in the hospital to the international community was wrong and misleading,” the letter states.
They also accused the WHO of a double standard regarding Israel.
“Tragically, the World Health Organization has remained silent when it comes to [Hamas’ crimes of Oct. 7] and has taken only symbolic steps for the benefit of the captive Israelis, while speaking out decisively and critically against Israel’s efforts to overthrow Hamas and protect Palestinian citizens,” the letter continues.
“It is now clear that the World Health Organization has at the very least turned a blind eye to the use of medical facilities for terrorist purposes and as a human shield.”
Bosso and Bar Siman Tov called on the WHO to “publicly and immediately” acknowledge Hamas’ use of medical infrastructure for terrorism and to condemn it.
They accuse Hamas of carrying out a “double war crime” by hiding under hospitals while launching missiles from those hospitals at Israeli population centers.
“By failing to address these issues, the World Health Organization contributes to the continuation of the conflict that causes many great suffering,” they write.
Addressing the issue at a Nov. 21 press briefing, a Prime Minister’s Office spokesman said that although there is now “incontrovertible proof” that Hamas treats hospitals as military bases, UN agencies like WHO have still not condemned the group.
“Will you take action and what actions will you take to prevent this recurring in future? Or will you continue to ignore Hamas’ modus operandi,” the spokesman asked of the UN agencies.
On Nov. 19, the IDF, with the assistance of the Israel Security Agency, released CCTV footage of Hamas terrorists transporting hostages near Shifa’s main entrance, including a Nepalese civilian and a Thai civilian, who were kidnapped from Israel on Oct. 7.
IDF vehicles stolen during the massacre were also seen inside the Shifa Hospital complex.
The findings, including an 180-foot tunnel 33 feet under the hospital, supplement earlier evidence that Hamas uses hospitals for terrorist activities “in a systematic and ongoing manner,” the IDF said.
A deep staircase led to the tunnel entrance, which featured a blast-proof door and a firing hole.
“This type of door is used by the Hamas terrorist organization to block Israeli forces from entering the command centers and the underground assets belonging to Hamas.”
The tunnel was uncovered in the hospital area underneath a shed alongside a vehicle containing numerous weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, explosives and automatic rifles.
Israeli forces arrested the director of Shifa Hospital, said the IDF and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) in a joint statement on Nov. 23.
Muhammad Abu Salmiya was arrested prior to that evening’s announcement, along with several other hospital staff members while attempting to evacuate southward along the humanitarian corridor.
“The director of the Shifa Hospital in the Gaza Strip was apprehended and transferred for ISA questioning following evidence showing that Shifa Hospital, under his direct management, served as a Hamas command and control center,” the Israeli statement read.
“The Hamas terror tunnel network situated under the hospital also exploited electricity and resources taken from the hospital.
“In addition, Hamas stored numerous weapons inside the hospital and on the hospital grounds.”
“In the hospital, under [Abu Salmiya’s] management, there was extensive Hamas terrorist activity.
Findings of his involvement in terrorist activity will determine whether he will be subject to further ISA questioning.”
Also on Nov. 23, the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza said that the IDF issued an alert to evacuate the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia within four hours.
The IDF released more video evidence of Hamas’ tunnels under Shifa Hospital on Nov. 22, saying its latest findings “unequivocally prove the modus operandi of the terrorist organization Hamas, which systematically operates from hospitals.
“The Hamas terrorist organization builds underground complexes under hospitals while exploiting the hospital infrastructure and conducts warfare from them,” the military said.
Israeli forces have operated in and around Shifa since Nov. 15, uncovering weapons and other terrorist infrastructure inside the medical center, and killing terrorists in the larger compound.
The military on Nov. 5 also presented evidence that the Indonesian Hospital, which was funded by NGOs from Indonesia and was inaugurated in 2016, was built on top of Hamas terrorist infrastructure.
There were underground terrorist facilities there before the hospital was constructed, the IDF spokesman demonstrated.
IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari showed a rocket launch pad located close to the hospital.
“Hamas launches rockets on Israel 75 meters [82 yards] from a hospital,” he said.
Hagari also presented evidence that Hamas is using a Qatari-funded medical center in the Gaza Strip to pursue its terrorist warfare.
He showed visual proof of a terrorist tunnel entrance that Israeli soldiers exposed at Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Hospital, located along the coast north of Gaza City.
