Under the hospital: Select journalists were allowed into the Al Shifa Hospital complex yesterday by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), where they were shown what is purportedly evidence of Hamas operations at and underneath the hospital.

On hospital grounds, there was a concrete and stone shaft that reportedly goes deep underground, with stairs and electrical wires. The IDF believes this is evidence of what they've long known—that Hamas operates out of this hospital, using civilians as human shields, and that tunnels beneath it are critical to the terrorist group's plots. IDF troops have not descended into the tunnel, yet, because of fear of booby traps, but have investigated via drones to try to suss out what lies deep beneath the surface.

Col. Elad Tsury, the commander of Israel's Seventh Brigade, "acknowledged the pressure on Israel to show evidence of Hamas activity at the hospital," according to the New York Times, "but said it might be days before troops descended the shaft."

Tsury also said that "soldiers were methodically searching the complex and had discovered weapons, explosives and computers, as well as the body of an Israeli hostage in a nearby building." The body of another hostage was found earlier today on the hospital grounds.

Elsewhere in Gaza: Palestinian outlets report that an Israeli strike hit the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, killing Gazans trying to get to safety. "U.N. aid deliveries to Gaza were suspended again on Friday due to shortages of fuel and a communications shutdown," reports Reuters.

Israel and Hamas appear to be getting close to a hostage deal, brokered by Egypt, the U.S., and Qatar, in which the terrorist group would release 50 hostages—all women and children—and Israel would release the same number of Palestinians—all women and children—who are currently being held in prisons.

The Israeli military has released video it says shows the entrance to a Hamas “terrorist tunnel” found at the edge of the al-Shifa Hospital complex in Gaza.

The footage came two days after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) entered the complex in what they described as a “targeted operation.”

On the same day, the IDF also released photos it said were of a tunnel inside the Rantisi children’s hospital. (See post from X below.)

Storyful has not verified the nature of the structures seen in the video or the photos. The video, however, is confirmed as having been shot at al-Shifa Hospital. Credit: IDF via Storyful.

UN seeks access to embattled al-Shifa hospital to vet Israeli claims.

The human rights chief for the United Nations called on Israel to stop its attacks against protected civilian sites and allow his team access to the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza after Israel’s military released a video saying there is a Hamas “operational tunnel shaft” in the hospital.

Video released Thursday by the military shows a hole in the ground near the hospital. The group said Tuesday that forces were carrying out an operation inside the hospital after saying it was a major base of operations for Hamas, a claim disputed by the Palestinian group and medical administrators.

“Rapid and unimpeded humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza, including fuel, and at the scale required, is urgently needed, and must be facilitated — including through Israeli crossings such as Kerem Shalom,” U.N. Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said in a statement. “My Office will remain deeply engaged, and I stress the importance of full access to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Gaza, for my Office, to ensure full and independent monitoring and documentation, and to coordinate protection work.”

Türk released a briefing after visiting Egypt and Jordan last week to offer recommendations. He said he met with senior officials and representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Palestine and Israel. Türk said he has asked Israeli officials if he could visit “Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”

Türk said during his visit he went to Rafah and El Arish and was struck by “the horrific wounds” of hospital patients. He has heard from “a number of Israelis” about their anguish for the 1,200 killed in the initial attack by Hamas and the hostages abducted.

“Rarely have I heard such disturbing testimony about the catastrophic harm that ordinary people have endured, and which continues to mount,” Türk’s statement said. “And never in my career of working in many crisis situations around the world have I met such an outpouring of fear, anger and despair.”

The al-Shifa Hospital is holding about 150 bodies that can’t be removed amid relentless strikes from the Israeli military, the World Health Organization and local health authorities claim. Hamas said there are roughly 2,000 people inside the hospital, including about 600 patients.

Israeli soldiers have recovered the bodies of two hostages kidnapped by Hamas in its attack on Israel last month near the hospital, the military reported.

The conflict began early last month after Hamas militants killed more than 1,200 Israelis in an attack on border settlements that targeted civilians. More than 11,100 Palestinians, including more than 4,600 children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and a ground invasion since.

In his briefing, Türk said he is deeply concerned about the intensification of violence and discrimination against Palestinians. He said he will issue a report on the attacks against Palestinians.

“It is apparent that on both sides, some view the killing of civilians as either acceptable collateral damage, or a deliberate and useful weapon of war. This is a humanitarian and human rights crisis,” Türk’s statement said. “It represents a breakdown of the most basic respect for humane values. The killing of so many civilians cannot be dismissed as collateral damage. Not in kibbutz. Not in a refugee camp. And not in a hospital.”