Hamas Accused of Using Gaza Hospitals for Torture and Abuse

Hamas is reportedly using hospitals in the Gaza Strip not only as military strongholds but also as sites for internal repression, according to Palestinian Media Watch (PMW). Since the October 7th attacks, Hamas has allegedly used hospitals as hiding places, command centers, weapons storage, and temporary holding sites for hostages. Official Hamas documents, exposed by the research institute NGO Monitor, reportedly detail the systematic exploitation of medical facilities for military purposes and as gathering points for senior Hamas officials during escalations.

Beyond military use, PMW revealed that health facilities are allegedly being used to suppress Palestinians internally. A recent account from a woman from the Ahl family, shared by Fatah spokesperson Dr. Jamal Nazzal, describes severe abuse of women by Hamas security forces within Shifa Hospital. The woman recounted that three women and their children were detained, beaten with clubs, had their head coverings and abayas removed, and were subjected to gunfire between their legs. One woman was forced to pay for the bullets fired near her and was subsequently imprisoned.

Earlier this year, PMW also exposed testimony from a Gaza political activist, Amin Awad, who stated that Hamas uses hospitals and aid centers for interrogating and torturing Gazan civilians. Awad claimed that Hamas militants threaten people at aid centers and summon young men for interrogation at hospitals like Shifa, Nasser, Al-Aqsa, and Al-Madani, accusing the organization of turning these facilities into centers for killing and torture.