White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby has reaffirmed that the Islamic group Hamas has been using the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza for military purposes.
Kirby spoke to reporters on Wednesday about the Israeli military's raid on the hospital.
He expressed understanding for Israel's desire to incapacitate Hamas, which the US believes is using such facilities as a cover.
But he noted this is a hospital with real doctors and patients, who must be protected as much as possible. He reiterated the US demand that Israel minimize civilian casualties in Gaza.
Kirby on Tuesday claimed that his disclosure of intelligence analysis that Hamas uses the Al-Shifa Hospital as a command and control center had nothing to do with the timing of Israel's raid.
He said, "These are Israeli military operations that they plan and execute in accordance with their own established procedures."