CNN's Nic Robertson and his team bring an up-close look at the dust and bullets and destruction inside Gaza.
The rare footage, showing Israel Defense Forces in action on the ground, comes at a key moment in the war, as US President Joe Biden calls for the main hospital in the Strip to be protected.
However, the IDF has already stated several times that the Al-Shifa hospital is serving as a shelter for Hamas leaders.
CNN reporting
We drive into Gaza, with the Israeli forces. We are in a war zone.
The conditions for our entry there: To show only the faces of the officers, not the soldiers, and not to shoot the equipment of special importance.
Destruction is visible at every kilometer we pass. Buildings blown up, destroyed... nothing untouched by the frenzy of Israel's hunt for Hamas. The roads are twisted.
"The shops, everything we see... there are no human feet here and the soldiers tell us that even inside the shops they found grenades to use against them as they advanced in this area," CNN's Nic Robertson reports.
A few kilometers further a postation. Soldiers live in blown-up apartments.
"Every building I see here, everywhere you turn your head, is destroyed. It's hard to imagine how the civilians have endured the bombing here," adds Robertson.
The journey continues, deeper into Gaza. We are only 100 meters away from a battle with Hamas. Tanks hit nearby buildings. The spokesman of the Israeli army is waiting for us.
"We are now conducting an operation inside Gaza, adjacent to the Rentisi hospital," says Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman.
A lot of international pressure is being exerted on Israel regarding the destruction of houses. The shocking number of victims and, at least in the last few days, for the harsh tactics he used against hospitals.
"We are searching in the tunnel. The bulldozers discovered the tunnels that we suspect are under the hospital," adds Hagari.
Hagar brought us here to show us the connection he says exists between Hamas and Rentisi Children's Hospital.
"We are in an area between a hospital, a school and a terrorist house."
It is said that a Hamsi commander lived there...and he shows us the solar panels on the roof.
"This is a tunnel that leads to the floor, you can see it here," Hagari explains.
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: This is the ladder that leads down.
Nic Robertson, CNN : Yes, I see the scale.
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: This is a 20-meter long tunnel, and look here, look at this panel. Watch out, but look down, do you see the caboose coming down?
Nic Robertson, CNN : So they're connected to the tunnel?
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: The solar panels on the terrace produce energy directly in the tunnel... We put a robot inside the tunnel and the robot saw a big door, a door in the direction of the hospital.
Nic Robertson, CNN : We are in a fire zone, according to the IDF. The shots can still be heard. We go down, being careful, because the shooting continues. But we can smell human flesh, maybe there are bodies under the rubble.
Nic Robertson , CNN (speaking to the cameraman): Don't get up. Don't expose yourself.
We are only 100 meters from the hospital, but we still hear the shots.
"We are still conducting an operation... an operation of the special unit, the Navy Seals, towards the hospital. Let's go down," says General Hagari.
Hagar tells us later that we risked too much going down into the war zone, clearly he wants us to say that.
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: We are searching here to find the connection between the tunnel and the hospital, be careful not to fall.
Nic Robertson, CNN : So here's the link...
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: We are looking for the connection.
As we finally reach the hospital, night has fallen. A large hole can be seen in the walls of the basement.
Nic Robertson, CNN : Why is the hospital so damaged?
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: We will talk... Why is the hospital so damaged? I will explain it. It is an important question.
Nic Robertson, CNN : Yes, it is.
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: We came to the hospital 5 days ago. There were still patients there and we didn't go inside.
According to him, since that day everyone has been evacuated by the hospital staff.
"We helped with the evacuation, to create a safe passage for all the patients. We don't know if the hospital is completely clear. We don't know. We only went into this area where we suspect, because that's where we were shot at."
Hagar guides us through a maze of corridors to this room.
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: These are weapons, agree?
Nic Robertson, CNN : Weapons of Hamas?
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: Yes.
He shows us some rusty weapons and some explosives. These weapons alone are enough to change the fate of Gaza's hospitals and Israel's intention to take control of them.
The International Committee of the Red Cross says hospitals enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law. But if the militants have hidden weapons or use them as a base, then the protection falls. In other rooms he shows us a motorcycle with a bullet hole allegedly used by Hamas militants on October 7.
Nearby there is also possible evidence that hostages may have been kept there.
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: We are now in the basement, in the same area, a few meters from the engine. We see a chair and a rope. We see women's clothing or something that was used to cover a woman.
Nic Robertson, CNN : Do you think a woman was kept tied to a chair?
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: This is an assumption that will be verified by DNA.
There is also other evidence, says Hagari, related to Hamas and possibly the presence of hostages under the hospital.
Nic Robertson, CNN : You brought us here to tell us the connection you believe exists between the terrorists and possibly the hostages. But what does this say about all the other hospitals in Gaza?
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: Shifa Hospital is known by facts, from the intelligence services, that it is a terrorist hotbed. And it is also suspected that the hostages were kept there. It is the best hideout for the Hamas terror machine.
Nic Robertson, CNN : But hospital authorities said they are not aware of the presence of Hamas or other groups in their hospitals. Is this possible?
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: I think it is not possible for a hospital to have this kind of infrastructure... We knew the terrorists were here. We knew.
Nic Robertson, CNN : How did you know?
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: We knew from the intelligence services. We were also attacked from this area.
Nic Robertson, CNN : From this area or this building?
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: From this area... and we had the right to shoot. Because look what we found. Armaments.
Nic Robertson, CNN : But there's so much destruction around here.
Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, IDF spokesman: There is destruction everywhere. Because Hamas has made it impossible for us to fight with them. They have built infrastructure in tunnels in hospitals and around populated areas.
As we leave the hospital, it is already night.
We are getting ready to leave. The fighting continues. Still tough. This war and the debates surrounding it are still far from being resolved.
*CNN reported from Gaza, accompanied throughout by the Israel Defense Forces. CNN did not provide the text or footage of the chronicle to the IDF in advance and had editorial control over the material. (A2 Televizion)
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