Israeli Public Security Minister Avi Dichter on Monday said that top tier Hamas commanders and many of their subordinates have taken refuge in hospitals and schools across Gaza City as Israeli forces advance on their traditional bases of operations.
Dichter said that Shifa Hospital, Gaza City's main medical center, has become the de facto Hamas headquarters.
"Shifa Hospital has long ago ceased to be just a hospital, just as the UN humanitarian and health services in Gaza long ago ceased to be just humanitarian services providing food and medical services," Dichter said in an interview with Army Radio.
UN and other schools were being similarly used by the terrorists.
Dichter said that for obvious reasons Israel will avoid targeting Shifa Hospital and other public places being misused by Hamas, but suggested that Israel is less than pleased with the international community for ignoring these blatant violations of the Geneva Conventions.