In a coordinated operation, Israeli security forces apprehended over 240 terrorists at a Hamas command center located in Kamal Adwan Hospital, northern Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced on Saturday. The operation underscores ongoing efforts to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure embedded within civilian locations.
Among those detained during the targeted raid in Jabalia were 15 individuals who had infiltrated Israel during the October 7, 2023, attacks, according to the joint statement.
Exploitation of Hospitals for Military Operations
“Despite repeated calls to refrain from allowing terrorists to exploit hospitals for military activities, IDF and Shin Bet intelligence identified that terrorists were once again using Kamal Adwan Hospital as a command center for its military operations in Jabalia,” the statement detailed. Following this intelligence, a meticulous operation was launched to neutralize the threat.
The IDF’s 401st Brigade encircled the hospital, eliminating terrorists in the vicinity, while Shayetet 13 naval commandos entered the facility to confiscate weapons. Recovered items included grenades, firearms, ammunition, and other military equipment. The operation also faced resistance as terrorists attempted counterattacks with anti-tank missiles and RPGs. However, Israeli forces swiftly neutralized the threats without sustaining casualties.
Measures to Protect Civilians
Prior to the operation, 350 patients and medical staff were safely evacuated from the hospital in coordination with the Defense Ministry’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit. Essential supplies, including tens of thousands of liters of fuel, food, and medical materials, were delivered to the hospital to facilitate the evacuation process. An additional 95 patients and medical personnel were transferred to the Indonesian Hospital in Gaza City.
Hundreds of civilians were also provided with defined evacuation routes to ensure their safety. Despite these efforts, some Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist operatives reportedly attempted to disguise themselves as patients or flee in ambulances.
The hospital’s director, Hussam Abu Safiya, was among those taken into custody as a suspected Hamas operative.
Addressing Misinformation
The operation drew accusations from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, claiming that IDF actions caused a fire within the hospital compound. IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani refuted these allegations, stating, “While IDF troops were not in the hospital, a small fire broke out in an empty building inside the hospital compound that is under control. After preliminary examination, no connection was found between IDF activity and the fire.”
Shoshani criticized the spread of unsubstantiated reports, calling for greater journalistic integrity in reporting such incidents.
Additional Operations in Gaza
Concurrent with the hospital raid, IDF forces under the command of the 143rd “Gaza” Division struck terrorist targets in Beit Hanun, east of Jabalia. Artillery and airstrikes preceded the ground operation, with residents given defined evacuation routes to leave the combat zone safely.
In another precision strike on Sunday, the Israeli Air Force targeted a Hamas command and control center in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighborhood. The facility, previously the El-Wafa Rehabilitation Hospital, was being used by Hamas’s Aerial Defense Unit to coordinate imminent attacks against IDF troops. The military emphasized its extensive efforts to minimize civilian casualties while highlighting Hamas’s continued exploitation of civilian infrastructure, a violation of international law.
These operations reflect the IDF and Shin Bet’s ongoing commitment to eliminating threats posed by terrorist organizations while prioritizing the safety of civilians in conflict zones.