In the last 24 hours, the world got a brutal reminder of how Hamas fights—and how it systematically abuses the laws of war to shield its terror operations.

This is Hamas’ playbook: violate international law, bank on the world misunderstanding international law, and try to win immunity by abusing international law.

But that’s not how it works.

And that’s not how it should work.

HERE ARE THE FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW—AND THE TALKING POINTS TO SHARE.

1. Terrorists Don’t Gain Immunity by Moving Their Offices Into a Hospital

On Sunday, Israel eliminated Hamas’ so-called “prime minister” in Gaza, Ismail Barhoum. He was in the Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. He wasn’t being operated on in the hospital; he was operating out of the hospital.

For 18 months, the IDF has repeatedly warned Hamas’ leadership to stop waging war from inside hospitals. They can’t play dumb. They know exactly what they’re doing: turning medical facilities into human shields and daring Israel to act.

Barhoum camped out in the hospital for weeks, hoping to buy permanent immunity by taking advantage of the humanitarian protections afforded to hospitals under international law. He was using the Nasser Hospital to direct a war against Israeli civilians. And Israel took action.

International law does not reward belligerents for violating international law. Hospitals can lose their protection when they are used for military purposes. If Hamas turns a hospital into a command center, it can become a legitimate military target. That’s the law.

Barhoum’s predecessor, Essam al-Da’alis, was also killed by the IDF last week. Both men were directly responsible for Hamas’ war effort—and the October 7 Massacre.

2. The “Journalist” Eulogized by Al Jazeera Was a Hamas Sniper

Today, the IDF reportedly killed Hossam Shabat. Some media outlets are mourning him as a journalist. But Shabat was also a Hamas sniper in the Beit Hanoun battalion.

The IDF declassified intelligence back in October 2024 confirming Shabat’s dual role and even released his Hamas military ID number: 713064.

Journalists are now eulogizing Shabat as their “eyes and ears” in Gaza. If they’re getting Hamas into their eyes and ears, that explains why what’s coming out of their mouths is Hamas propaganda. Palestinian “journalists” like Shabat, embedded with Hamas terror units, have been feeding Hamas propaganda directly to international media.

THE BOTTOM LINE

• International law doesn’t give terrorists immunity just because they hide in a hospital.

• Hamas leaders like Barhoum have turned hospitals into military bunkers. Israel has warned them for 18 months to stop. They didn’t stop.

• Israel’s strikes are targeted and precise. Hamas’ strategy is to maximize civilian suffering in order to win propaganda points.

• Relying on “journalists” who double as Hamas fighters has poisoned the media narrative from Gaza.

This is not a war Israel wanted. It is a war Hamas started—and one they are still waging from hospitals and through the lens of fighters playing dress-up as journalists.

Israel fights according to international law. Hamas systematically abuses it.

We need to keep saying this—again and again.

TALKING POINTS

• Terrorists don’t gain immunity by moving into hospitals. That’s not how international law works. International law doesn’t reward terrorists for breaking it.

• Israel has been warning Hamas’ leadership for 18 months to stop turning hospitals into terror bases.

• The IDF’s strikes are precise and lawful. Hamas hides behind civilians to exploit humanitarian protections.

• Hamas disguises its operatives as journalists, contaminating global media coverage with terrorist propaganda.

Share this. Say this. Stand with us.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Eylon Levy,

President, Israeli Citizen Spokespersons’ Office