From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, January 3, 2024
US intel assesses Hamas used Shifa Hospital as command center, held hostages there
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WASHINGTON — US spy agencies assess that Islamist terror group Hamas and another Palestinian group fighting Israel used Gaza’s Al Shifa Hospital to command forces and hold some hostages but largely evacuated the complex days before Israeli troops entered it, a US official says, citing declassified US intelligence.
The complex was used by both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to command forces fighting against Israel, the US official says, speaking on condition of anonymity.
US intelligence agencies have not disclosed the evidence on which they based their assessment. The official says the US has independently confirmed the information.
The American government believes that Hamas used the hospital complex and sites beneath it to carry out command and control activities, store some weapons and hold a few hostages, the US official says.
US intelligence agencies obtained information that Hamas fighters had largely evacuated the complex days before Israel’s operation and destroyed documents and electronics as they left, according to the American official.
The US intelligence assessment was reported first by the New York Times. A classified version of the assessment was sent to lawmakers in the US Congress.
The Times of Israel Community.