It has been days since the Israeli forces they entered Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, and what appears to be happening on Friday is that continue the search tous for evidence that this is a key Hamas administrative center reports BBC journalist Jeremy Bowden in his analysis.

We must remember that there is no independent audit within the hospital. Journalists cannot move freely in Gaza, and those reporting from the BBC work under the auspices of the Israeli military.

As the British columnist points out, the evidence provided by Israel, so far, I don’t think they are convincing in terms of the kind of rhetoric that the Israelis used about how the hospital was organized to suggest that this was a nerve center for the Hamas operation.

If there was a nerve center there – and there has been speculation about this possibility since 2014 – then the Israelis have yet to reveal conclusive evidence of its existence to the outside world.

What was discovered includes some Kalashnikov rifles – these are common in the Middle East – a tunnel entrance, one of many in Gaza, some military uniforms and a vehicle rigged with explosives.

The discovery and evidence of a large Hamas headquarters under the hospital is of course still possible, specified in the article.

The hospital, after all, was built by the Israelis in the 1970s during their full control of the area, and is a large site that will take time to thoroughly investigate.

It is known that the Israeli architects who designed the Shifa they included extensive basements.

“Israel has “bet” a lot on Shifa”

It is also possible that the Israelis have come up with something for their own reasons – military or security reasons perhaps – have decided not to reveal it yet. Why this would happen is not clear – Israel has “bet” a lot on Shifa.

Since the beginning of this war on October 7, when a surprise attack launched by Hamas killed an estimated 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians, Tel Aviv has made it clear that getting to the hospital was one of his main goals.

Proving that Hamas is using Gaza’s medical facilities to cover its activities is a key goal of Israel and is an accusation that Hamas has repeatedly denied.

Israel’s main justification for killing so many people in Gaza -more than 11,500 in over a month, according to the latest figures from the Hamas Health Ministry- is that their Hamas uses as human shields.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed in an interview Thursday night that Hamas maintained a military command center at the hospital.

He also pointed to what he said were “strong indications” that hostages were being held there as well, after the Israel Defense Forces said the body of a 65-year-old woman who had been abducted from her home in Beri near the Gaza border was discovered in a house near Al Shifa. .

At the same time, negotiations are continuing with Qatar to try to reach some kind of agreement on the return of the more than 200 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

But if hard evidence of a Hamas headquarters, in Shifa or elsewhere, is not found, then pressure on Israel from the international community to negotiate a ceasefire will intensify.

So many civilians have been killed by Israel in Gaza in the past 42 days that concern is growing about Israel’s methods in the United States – which is the only international power the Israelis really worry about.

US President Biden has said from the outset that Israel has the right to defend itself, but that it must do so in the right way – that is, to follow the laws of war.

On Wednesday, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for extended humanitarian pauses which the Americans did not veto. This was significant, because it is the first resolution passed without condemnation of Hamas that was not vetoed by the US or the UK.

“These actions will breed more terrorism”

And another interesting development is the release by the so-called “Wise Ones”, a group of retired prime ministers, presidents and senior politicians and women from around the world, of a statement condemning Hamas but also saying that “Destroying Gaza and killing civilians does not make Israel safer. These actions will breed more terrorism in the region and beyond. There is no military solution to the conflict.”

So the Israelis know that pressure for a cease-fire is steadily building, and as questions about Israel’s strategy mount, it will intensify.

“This is not going to end easily. I don’t think there will be a clear moment when Israel can say that he has “done the job” and he can leave Gaza” comments the BBC journalist.

The Israeli government also doesn’t seem to have a plan for the day ahead. Mr Netanyahu said only that he expects to be in charge of security there (in Gaza) to prevent a “resurgence of terror”.

Whatever Israel does there, in a place that has experienced massive numbers of killing and destruction, they will have to deal with more than two million people who will hate them. (The Israelis) possibly could face a rebellion, depending on how long they stay.

It is therefore vital for Israel to prove that it had no other choice from using methods that killed thousands of civilians so that its allies would continue to protect it from international pressure for a ceasefire.