The White House considers such actions a war crime. This was stated by the spokesman for the United States National Security Council, John Kirby, responding to questions from journalists aboard Air Force One.
According to him, the United States has information that Hamas (designated by the United States as a terrorist organization) and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad are using some hospitals in the Gaza Strip, including Al-Shifa, to hide or support their military operations, as well as to hold hostages.
Kirby said the information was obtained through a variety of intelligence methods, and on Tuesday the Biden administration downgraded some of the data to share its findings with reporters.
Kirby emphasized that Hamas’ actions in Gaza hospitals do not diminish Israel’s responsibility to protect Gaza civilians, but they complicate Israel’s efforts to eradicate Hamas.
“We do not support airstrikes against hospitals. “We don’t want to see a hospital shooting where innocent, helpless, sick people are simply trying to get the medical care they deserve,” Kirby said.
In turn, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a press conference on Tuesday that the United States believes that patients in Gaza hospitals need to be evacuated and will support an independent third party to carry out this evacuation.
Miller said Washington does not want civilians, including “babies in incubators,” to get caught in the crossfire. Miller added that the United States is in talks with humanitarian organizations and third parties about possible evacuations.
“We want to ensure safe evacuation of patients in hospitals so that they can leave dangerous places. We would support an independent third party, a reputable third party, to carry out this evacuation,” Miller said.
“We know that the Israeli government would also support such a move… The question is whether Hamas will allow Hamas to evacuate patients from hospitals or continue to use them as human shields,” Miller said.
A State Department spokesperson said Washington was in talks with several humanitarian organizations about the possible evacuation of patients, but did not say which ones or provide further details.
Israeli troops have surrounded the Al-Shifa central hospital in Gaza City, which they believe houses the underground headquarters of Hamas militants.
Gaza’s ruling Islamist group Hamas (designated a terrorist organization by the United States) denies the presence of militants at Al-Shifa Hospital and claims that 650 patients and 5,000 to 7,000 other civilians are on the hospital grounds under fire. constant Israeli snipers and drones. .
According to Al Shifa hospital, 40 patients have died there in recent days, including three premature babies, because the incubators for their care do not work without the electricity supply, which is cut off.
After the death of three babies, 36 children remained in the Al-Shifa neonatal ward. With no fuel for the generators that power the incubators, doctors tried to keep the babies warm by placing eight babies together in a bed.
Israel denies the hospital is under siege and says its troops are providing a way out for those inside.