Hezbollah accused of stashing $500M in gold under Beirut hospital
- Hezbollah has built a bunker under one of the hospitals in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and is concealing over $500 million in gold and cash there, announced Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, on Monday evening.
8:07 AM EDT, October 22, 2024
Israel has accused Hezbollah of hiding this substantial sum in a secret bunker beneath the al-Sahel hospital in southern Beirut, as reported by the "New York Post."
The IDF spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, confirmed that the bunker is linked to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.
Hezbollah's private bunker under the hospital
- The bunker was deliberately placed under the hospital and contains over half a billion dollars in cash and gold, said Hagari. He added that these funds could have been used to rebuild Lebanon, but instead, they serve to strengthen Hezbollah.
Hagari stated that the bunker is connected to the hospital via a shaft and links to another building located several yards away.
Despite this, IDF has no plans to attack the hospital and even invites Lebanese authorities to inspect the location.
- I urge the government of Lebanon, Lebanese authorities, and international organizations: Do not allow Hezbollah to use this money for terrorism and attacking Israel, Hagari appealed.
Evacuation of the hospital, Beirut braces for another Israeli attack
The hospital director, Fadi Alameh, denied the accusations and announced the facility's evacuation. He also invited the Lebanese army to visit the hospital and debunk the IDF's claims.
Meanwhile, another IDF spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, warned Lebanese civilians to leave several districts in southern Beirut. "You are in the vicinity of facilities and interests belonging to Hezbollah, which the Israeli army will soon attack," wrote Adraee on platform X.
The IDF accuses Hezbollah of conducting terrorist activities in civilian areas, complicating military operations. Israel has announced plans to dismantle Hezbollah's finances to permanently defeat the organization and has carried out airstrikes on financial institutions linked to the group throughout Lebanon.
Similar accusations have been previously made against Hamas in Gaza, where the IDF claimed that the organization was hiding terrorist infrastructure in civilian facilities, such as hospitals.
