Hamas has command center at Gaza hospital: White House

Palestinian militants have a command center at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, the White House said Tuesday, backing up a key Israeli justification for its military moves on the facility.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad "operate a command and control node from Al-Shifa in Gaza City," John Kirby, National Security Council spokesman told reporters, citing US intelligence sources.

"They have stored weapons there and they're prepared to respond to an Israeli military operation against that facility."

The US statement comes as pressure ramps up on Israel over its blockade of the sprawling Al-Shifa compound, where doctors say patients and people seeking shelter are stranded in horrific conditions.

The United Nations estimates that at least 2,300 people — patients, staff and displaced civilians — are inside and may be unable to escape because of fierce fighting from the facility where supplies are nearly exhausted.

Israel says it is not targeting the hospital itself, but has vowed to destroy Hamas in response to the attacks of October 7, which killed an estimated 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw 240 hostages being taken to Gaza.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says Israel's relentless assault has killed 11,320 people, also mostly civilians, including thousands of children.

Al-Shifa's fate has become a major focus of the more than five week war.

Israel insists it must protect citizens after the worst attack in the country's 75-year history.

But Israel's critics point to the toll of a blockade and near-relentless bombing campaign on long-suffering civilians in Gaza.