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Last update - 14:17 12/01/2009
Sources: Hamas leaders hiding in basement of Israel-built hospital in Gaza
By Amos Harel
Tags: Hamas, IDF, Gaza Strip 

Senior Hamas officials in Gaza are hiding out in a "bunker" built by Israel, intelligence officials suspect: Many are believed to be in the basements of the Shifa Hospital complex in Gaza City, which was refurbished during Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip.

Shifa, the coastal strip's largest hospital, was built while Gaza was under Egyptian rule, before 1967.


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During the mid-1980s the building underwent massive refurbishment as part of a showcase project to improve the living conditions of residents.

Millions were invested in the project, which was overseen by Shmuel Goren, the coordinator for activities in the territories at the time.

The Israeli civil administration in the territories constructed the hospital complex's Building Number 2, which has a large cement basement that housed the hospital's laundry and various administrative services.

During a cabinet meeting a week ago, Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin said senior Hamas officials found refuge in the hospital basement because they know Israel would not target it, due to the patients in the upper floors. Palestinian sources told Haaretz that not all the senior Hamas leaders are hiding in one place.

Rather, they have spread out, and some are constantly changing locations. Some of the bunkers they are using were linked by tunnels Hamas built in recent years.

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      1.   This was obvious 03:24  |  Avi 12/01/09
      2.   What can be done about it? 04:33  |  Fortuna Benmayor 12/01/09
      3.   Yeah, right..... 05:36  |  Johnboy 12/01/09
      4.   What was that about a war crime? 05:39  |  Jordan 12/01/09
      5.   Criminal Doctors 05:43  |  Barny Rubble 12/01/09
      6.   Brave Muslim warriors not afraid to confront their enemies face 05:48  |  SLAVO 12/01/09
      7.   Sounds Like IDF Needs To Do Special Forces Op 06:19  |  Rick 12/01/09
      8.   What it really means is Hamas leaders are the cowards 07:10  |  Shepherd 12/01/09
      9.   IDF solderes are hiding in hospitals too 07:16  |  GalileeHero 12/01/09
      10.   The Israelis need to slowly and quietly.... 07:28  |  Mark 12/01/09
      11.   surround the hospital, arrest them 07:32  |  goofy jew 12/01/09
      12.   remove the patients and medical staff then 08:09  |  bomb the hospital 12/01/09
      13.   Why did the idf build a bunker in the hospital? 08:23  |  Jack 12/01/09
      14.   Huh? Israel routinely bombs hospitals and schools 08:36  |  d 12/01/09
      15.   Hamas must be crushed. 08:45  |  Jean Van Daem 12/01/09
      16.   #5 Not so easy, goofy jew 08:53  |  Johnboy 12/01/09
      17.   Thank you Israel ! 08:59  |  blame shame khraim 12/01/09
      18.   should this not be kept a secret? 09:00  |  Vince 12/01/09
      19.   Send in the Commandos 2nd try 09:10  |  Peter Williams 12/01/09
      20.   Shin Bet disinformation 09:37  |  Michael 12/01/09
      21.   #7, d, Israel has never bombed a hospital 09:39  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/01/09
      22.   Enter the hospital and arrest or kill those Hamas terrorists 10:07  |  arthur 12/01/09
      23.   The less said the better 10:13  |  Zev 12/01/09
      24.   Hamas leaders hiding in basement 10:18  |  Mike F 12/01/09
      25.   using hospitals for military purposes is a war crime 10:20  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/01/09
      26.   Palestine can be only a liability on the international community 10:22  |  Akram Zekaria 12/01/09
      27.   What has Mr Gilbert got to say to that? 10:23  |  SG 12/01/09
      28.   Notice the word "suspect." 10:25  |  Maureen Ann 12/01/09
      29.   @3 GalileeHero 10:26  |  SG 12/01/09
      30.   #12 Vince: read the article again... 10:32  |  JustMe 12/01/09
      31.   preparing public opinion for attacking hospitals 10:34  |  GalileeHero 12/01/09
      32.   #15 Don`t be so dogmatic, Cipora 11:07  |  Johnboy 12/01/09
      33.   #13 Maybe they learnt their lesson in 2006, Peter Williams 11:12  |  Johnboy 12/01/09
      34.   Hamas` low act in the basement.. 12:09  |  Michael J 12/01/09
      35.   PROVE IT! LET THE PREE IN 12:09  |  Sam 12/01/09
      36.   Israel using kids as human-shields 12:24  |  Can 12/01/09
      37.   Well... 12:29  |  Kol ha-Nevi`im 12/01/09
      38.   Next: Bombing a hospital. 12:32  |  Can 12/01/09
      39.   Johnboy 13 - Lessons Learned 12:34  |  ChanahS 12/01/09
      40.   #31, johnny 12:42  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 12/01/09
      41.   COULDN`T BE BETTER!!! 12:50  |  Ian 12/01/09
      42.   just an excuse for IDF to bomb the hospital? 12:54  |  David Bernstein 12/01/09
      43.   CAN you are getting confused 13:14  |  PETER SM 12/01/09
      44.   underground with the rats 13:24  |  Jon from Euroland 12/01/09
      45.   We cant use a tank or jet but we can use soilders 13:51  |  zionist forever 12/01/09
      46.   During the first gulf war 13:52  |  Mark Lincoln 12/01/09
      47.   intelligence officials suspect... 13:54  |  Martin 12/01/09
      48.   hasen 13:58  |  doudou 12/01/09
      49.   Hams underground hiding 14:07  |  emporda 12/01/09
      50.   Cipora the parallels between Hizbulla and Hamas 14:18  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 12/01/09
      51.   The journalists from the world are in Sderot 14:32  |  diva riva 12/01/09
      52.   Sources: Hamas leaders hiding in basement of Israel-built hospita 14:35  |  Jake 1948 12/01/09
      53.   Drip, drip, drip 14:37  |  Aphemia 12/01/09
      54.   #38 Can...seems the cowardly Hamas 14:40  |  Lynn 12/01/09
      55.   BOMB THE HOSPITAL!!! 14:42  |  LW 12/01/09
      56.   The real face of Hamas 18:11  |  ChanahS 12/01/09
      57.   There is nothing brave about hiding amoung Civilians 18:20  |  Joe 12/01/09
      58.   Can From Istanbul 18:34  |  David Israel 12/01/09
      59.   Hospitals, schools and mosques 18:50  |  ChanahS 12/01/09
      60.   Johboy - there is not need for IDF to fight on Hamas terms 20:19  |  Orquest 12/01/09
      61.   don`t mess with the ZOHAN 20:40  |  mrlgh 12/01/09
      62.   So what? 21:09  |  Visionary 12/01/09
      63.   Use the bunker busters we sold you 21:58  |  Ken 12/01/09
      64.   To Sam 35 22:06  |  Antonio da Silva 12/01/09
      65.   Amost laughable 22:10  |  Brian 12/01/09
      66.   #21 cipora 23:19  |  phil 12/01/09
      67.   Gaza. Israel-Built Hospital 23:43  |  The Teacher/Instruct 12/01/09
      68.   ChanahS 23:46  |  TonyL 12/01/09
      69.   Johnboy, you mean that empty hospital? 23:49  |  Peter Williams 12/01/09
      70.   Shifa 23:53  |  Petero 12/01/09
      71.   bunkers tunnels and basements 00:07  |  fds 13/01/09
      72.   Chanah -S Booby traps in WW2? 00:22  |  Palestinian Brit 13/01/09
      73.   JOHNBOY Al Hikmah hospital was sorrounded by Hezballah fighters 02:42  |  PETER SM 13/01/09
      74.   Tell The World 06:00  |  Howard 13/01/09
      75.   80 % percent of German Population support Hittler in 1939 06:23  |  Rafael Tavera 13/01/09
      76.   re: Jack 06:32  |  UsedToPostHere 13/01/09
      77.   flood the basement 06:57  |  am yisrael chai 13/01/09
      78.   A bunch of hypocrites.... 07:02  |  Benny Lo 13/01/09
      79.   #72 Palestinian Brit 07:25  |  *BEN JABO 13/01/09
      80.   Hiding out in the basement..! 07:28  |  Stephen. 13/01/09
      81.   #40 3rd try to respond to Cippie Part 1 08:49  |  Johnboy 13/01/09
      82.   Eventually, Haneyah will come out with his hands up. 09:36  |  Ron 13/01/09
      83.   Simple solution to Hospital problem 19:32  |  *BEN JABO 13/01/09
      84.   #73 7th try to respond to PETER SM 01:38  |  Johnboy 14/01/09
      85.   #69 8th try to respond to Peter Williams part 1 01:40  |  Johnboy 14/01/09
      86.   #69 8th try to respond to Peter Williams part 2 01:51  |  Johnboy 14/01/09
      87.   #75, Totally Faulty Reasoning Here 02:46  |  Gary 14/01/09
      88.   #21 Here are a couple more, Cipora, hot off the press 03:39  |  Johnboy 14/01/09
      89.   Johnboy 8 tries, you must really like me 09:58  |  Peter Williams 14/01/09
      90.   #86 Oh, spare me the ignorance, Peter Williams! 12:18  |  Johnboy 14/01/09
      91.   Hey Johnboy take a chill pill 14:44  |  Peter Williams 14/01/09
      92.   basement 14:56  |  gigi 14/01/09
      93.   #91 Gosh, Peter, is it really *that* easy to avoid condemnation? 10:46  |  Johnboy 15/01/09
      94.   Apparently Yes Johnboy 14:57  |  Peter Williams 15/01/09
      95.   #94 Yet another attempt to reply to Peter 09:57  |  Johnboy 16/01/09
      96.   Johnboy 4th try 13:07  |  Peter Williams 20/01/09
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