TEL AVIV, November 17. /TASS/. The Israeli military can observe the "obvious presence" of supporters of the radical Palestinian organization Hamas in all the hospitals of the Gaza Strip, Major General Yaron Finkelman, chief of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Southern Command, said.

"We see the Hamas presence in all the hospitals, and this presence is obvious and clear. They cynically use these hospitals, as we can see here, in the very heart of Al-Shifa," he told service members during a meeting near the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza.

A video of his speech was released by the IDF press service.

According to Finkelman, Hamas uses hospital facilities for military purposes.

Tensions flared up in the Middle East after Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip attacked Israeli territory on October 7. Hamas views its attack as a response to Israeli authorities’ steps against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel declared a total blockade of the Gaza Strip and launched bombardments of the enclave and some areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also reported in the West Bank.