Al-Shifa hospital rebuts Israeli accusations, offering journalists inspection tour

Palestinian officials have rebutted Israeli claims that Al-Shifa hospital was being used by Hamas as a command centre, during a press conference outside the facility on Friday evening. 

"These are false fabricated allegations raised by the Israelis," said Salama Marouf, head of the Palestinian media office in Gaza. 

He said that Israel used technology to "fabricate audio records", adding that there was no evidence to suggest that Hamas was using tunnels under the facility or a command centre within it. 

Palestinian officials invited journalists to an inspection tour of the facility.

Earlier on Friday, Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari said that "terrorists move freely in Al-Shifa hospital" in Gaza City. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video, most of which consisted of CGI animation, of what he said was "intelligence" proving that hospitals were "headquarters" for Hamas. 

Senior Hamas figure Izzat al-Rishq said the remarks by Israeli officials were a "prelude" to targeting the hospital, which is currently sheltering around 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza.