New evidence comes to light confirming Israel's complaint: Hamas admits to use of ambulances for terrorist purposes
Audio and excerpts from interrogations offer insight into the jihadist group's modus operandi.
This Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet security agency shared several pieces of evidence about the misuse of ambulances by Hamas.
After Israel neutralized an ambulance last week, several countries and international organizations criticized the Jewish State, accusing it of violating international humanitarian law. At that time, the IDF explained that a Hamas cell was operating in the emergency vehicle and that they had evidence to prove that terrorists use ambulances to cover up their activities. This Wednesday, the Israeli authorities shared several of these tests.
An intercepted call
The IDF released a recording of an intercepted phone call in which a Hamas agent alleged that his organization misused ambulances.
In the shared audio, a member of the terrorist group is heard talking to another Gaza man about using an ambulance to get around, according to Times of Israel.
"There are ambulances that go and come back. I can go with any ambulance," is heard in the audio.
Excerpts from interrogations
The Shin Bet also published excerpts from the interrogations of several Hamas members who were captured after the October 7 attack, where the terrorists admitted that Hamas uses ambulances for its own purposes.
"Al-Qassam has its own ambulances, some of which are located on the military base. The appearance of the ambulances is similar to the civilian ambulances so that they will not arouse suspicion or be bombed by Israel," said one of the captured terrorists.
"During combat, the ambulances are used, among other things, to evacuate fighters, commanders and operatives. They also transport food, cargo and weapons in them because that is the safest way to transport them," another Hamas member revealed during the interrogation.
Hamas tries to evacuate its fighters in ambulances
Recently, a senior White House official also commented that the Palestinian terrorist group attempted to smuggle its fighters out in ambulances by infiltrating them as wounded.
The IDF has presented evidence over the years and during the current conflict about Hamas's use of civilians as human shields. It has been reported that schools, mosques, playgrounds, hospitals and even apartments are used to launch rockets, store weapons and hide.