Thread by @LTCPeterLerner

#Al_Shifa_Hospital is in the headlines today. After two weeks of operations, the @IDF retreated from the location that can only be described as Hamas' northern fortress. From here, Hamas, together with the Islamic Jihad, planned, conducted, and executed their operations. Here's what happened. 1/6

The battleground. 2/6

Hamas prepared Shifa for the war scenario. 3/6

#AlQassam meeting minutes, guess where they held the meeting. 4/6

To conduct the operation while the patients continued to receive medical assistance, the @IDF established a temporary facility in the compound and supplied humanitarian aid to the patients and hospital staff who remained onsite despite the operation. 5/6

The operation in #Al_Shifa_hospital was a direct result of Hamas' strategy to take control of protected locations in anticipation that the @IDF would not operate there.
They chose to make the hospital a battleground, they chose to put the people in dire need at risk, and they chose to abuse the values we hold dear because they know we will think twice because of the humanitarian consequences and international optics.
This operation was a military success;
- 200 terrorists were killed,
- 500 Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists were detained,
- 400 more detainees are still being processed.
- New intelligence is rolling in every day.
The operation is, without a doubt, a humanitarian tragedy for the people of Gaza, who need sustainable medical infrastructure. This is another reason why Hamas must go. 6/6