Why Israeli takeover of Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital is a pivotal moment
The IDF insists a Hamas command centre lay under the building. But the question is whether military gains can justify the civilian toll
This past week’s events surrounding Gaza’s largest hospital, al-Shifa, illuminate not only the nature of the bitter war being waged over the Palestinian territory but also some key aspects of modern warfare. Instead of battles between regular forces in deserts or open fields, contemporary conflicts tend to be conducted in and around highly populated areas and in settings saturated with media.
What gets noticed as much as the progress of armies is the effect on civilians, as they get caught in the crossfire or see their homes reduced to rubble and their infrastructure shattered.
The extent to which the belligerents deliberately put them at risk or take steps to protect them shapes the way that a conflict is framed and the rights and wrongs judged.
