The IDF, in coordination with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), arrested over 240 terrorists in a targeted operation against Hamas terror infrastructure embedded within the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Jabaliya, northern Gaza, the military announced on Friday.
The operation followed intelligence indicating that the hospital was being exploited as a command center by terrorists.
Ahead of the operation, the IDF facilitated the evacuation of 350 patients, caregivers, and medical personnel from the hospital in recent weeks, working closely with COGAT. During this period, tens of thousands of liters of fuel, food, and medical supplies were delivered to ensure the facility’s essential functioning, the IDF said.
On the day of the operation, an additional 95 patients and staff members were relocated to the Indonesian Hospital with the assistance of local health authorities. The IDF also provided 5,000 liters of fuel, two generators, and medical equipment to maintain critical systems at the Indonesian Hospital. Hundreds of civilians were evacuated through defined safety routes.
The IDF’s 401st Brigade encircled the hospital, apprehended terrorists in the vicinity, and eliminated those who resisted arrest and threatened the troops.
Within the hospital, Shayetet 13 special forces discovered and confiscated an arsenal of weapons, including grenades, firearms, and other military equipment. During the operation, terrorists attempted to launch anti-tank missiles and RPG attacks but were eliminated by the soldiers. The Israeli Air Force also eliminated terrorists attempting to flee the area.
No IDF casualties were reported during the mission.
Hundreds of terror suspects arrested
In total, the IDF apprehended over 240 individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities, some of whom tried to disguise themselves as patients or escape using ambulances. Among those detained was the hospital’s director, suspected of being a Hamas operative, along with other key Hamas and Islamic Jihad figures, including 15 individuals linked to the October 7 massacre.
Testimonies collected by Unit 504 and the ISA revealed that many detainees participated in terrorist operations in the area.
The IDF reiterated its commitment to adhering to international law regarding medical facilities, even when such facilities are exploited by Hamas for military purposes.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry announced just a few hours earlier that the hospital’s director, Hussam Abu Safiya, was arrested by the IDF during the raid, which it claims took place on Friday.
The raid on the hospital, one of three medical facilities on the northern edge of Gaza, put the last major health facility in north Gaza out of service, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in a post on X on Friday,
Hamas claims that the Indonesian Hospital, where the IDF transferred fuel, as well as medical personnel and supplies, isn’t in service.