CNN’s Oren Liebermann Explores Gaza Hospital Tunnel Claims by IDF: ‘The Credibility of Israel Is at Stake Here’
CNN’s Oren Liebermann explored claims that the IDF discovered tunnels under a hospital, which remains a hotly contested issue since the start of the Israel-Hamas War.
The IDF released a video that purports to show tunnels exist, as well as a video that appears to show surveillance footage from inside the Al-Shifa Hospital. There has been a debate over whether the terrorist group Hamas has used the tunnels underneath the hospital command center or “command node” to direct attacks like that which killed over 1,000 Israeli citizens on Oct. 7.
Liebermann joined IDF forces to explore the area that the Israeli military claimed as proof in the dark of night but was unable to confirm any of the claims the IDF made. Wartime reporting comes with great caution that comes with intentional propaganda and the “fog of war,” Liebermann threaded a delicate needle in presenting evidence as he saw it and reasonable skepticism that it may not *yet* be exactly as presented to him.
“As a condition for journalists to join this embed with the IDF, media outlets must submit footage filmed in Gaza to the Israeli military censors for review,” Liebermann disclosed before sharing what he saw. He then reports:
At the hospital compound, we went inside a structure to make sure the area is secure before moving the short distance to the exposed tunnel shaft. And here is the entrance. You can see what looks like a ladder access into it. And as I step over here, it’s very difficult to see how far down it goes. But it looks like there’s almost a central shaft or a staircase. And then it. And the shaft that it disappears. Then down into the darkness, we move around the opening for a better look at the shaft itself. What’s clear from here is this is meant to go deep underground.
He then asked IDF Major Nir Dinar which direction the tunnel goes, to which he replied, “We assume it goes out, and it has another corridor and goes this way towards the hospital.” He added, “which implies with the way that Hamas is working.”
If the words “assume” and “implies” raised anyone’s eyebrows, Liebermann also shared a bit of skepticism while treating the evidence presented as serious and strongly suggestive, just not yet proof.
“This is not proof of a Hamas command center or headquarters underneath a hospital,” he reported. “But Israel continues trying to build its case that Hamas uses the sanctuary of the hospital for cover, which Hamas and hospital officials have denied. The IDF’s ability to continue its operation in Gaza and the credibility of Israel are at stake here.”
“As the number killed in the fighting surpasses 12,000, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, the IDF says one of its missions is to destroy Hamas,” he added context. “But with international criticism mounting, Israel has to show the terror organization is using Gaza’s civilians and infrastructure as cover to justify an ongoing war. ”
“Given how dark it was while we were at the Al Shifa Hospital complex, we couldn’t see how deep the tunnel went,” he concluded. “But the IDF, in sending that camera down there, says the tunnel goes about 33ft down or ten meters. The tunnel itself runs 55 meters or more than 150 feet before it comes to that metal door, Poppy. Of course, the key question is, what is on the other side, and is there a more extensive network there?”
It seems the question of what is on the other side of a potentially booby-trapped door is significant.
Watch above via CNN.
