Gaza Residents Testify: Hamas Entrenches in Hospitals and Operates Detention and Interrogation Facilities

Three years after the Oct. 7 massacre, residents of Gaza Strip testify that Hamas continues to operate and rebuild its power mechanisms: its members entrench themselves in hospitals, operate detention and interrogation facilities, steal aid and collect protection money from merchants.

Three years after the Oct. 7 massacre, testimony from Gaza Strip describes how Hamas continues to operate and rebuild its power mechanisms. According to the testimony, organization members entrench themselves in hospitals, operate detention and interrogation facilities and collect protection money from merchants.

A Gaza resident, identified as A, said that masked gunmen carrying weapons stop cars, especially at night, and ask who is in the vehicle. According to her, Hamas entrenches in Al-Shifa hospital, in Al-Aqsa hospital and in Al-Nasser hospital, established prisons and summoned people for interrogations under hospitals.

An activist from Gaza identified as M said that "Hamas is still the same Hamas" and that the organization "steals aid just like before." According to him, there are torture facilities in hospitals, including in the basement of Al-Shifa hospital, and Hamas has command and control centers in 29 percent of Gaza Strip.

According to A, Hamas takes millions from some merchants as protection money to allow them to import, distribute and sell goods, while M described a black market flooded with aid. M said that "Gaza people are not Hamas" and called for "international forces to manage security matters for some period."