Over 20 Hamas terrorists involved in Oct. 7 attacks arrested during IDF op at Nasser Hospital

Israel Defense Forces announced on Friday morning that special forces are continuing operations at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. 

The Commando Brigade, Shayetet 13, and additional special forces units continue to conduct a limited operation against the Hamas terrorist organization within the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said.

The activity is based on IDF intelligence indicating Hamas terrorist activity against IDF troops was being carried out from within the hospital. 

According to the IDF spokesman, over 20 terrorists who participated in the Oct. 7 massacre were apprehended and dozens of other suspects have been taken for questioning. 

Among the suspects detained were a Hamas ambulance driver who participated in the Oct. 7 attack, another suspect who admitted his involvement in the attacks, and an operative with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) operative, Hagari said. 

During searches throughout the hospital compound, IDF soldiers also located mortar shells, grenades and additional weapons belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization.

Hamas previously used the hospital as a launch pad to fire mortar shells, including during a Hamas attack last month, which was revealed in IDF radar imagery. 

Hagari said, “The IDF will continue to operate in accordance with international law against the Hamas terrorist organization, which cynically operates from within hospitals and civilian infrastructure.” 

He also said that using hospital facilities for military purposes is a violation of international law. 

“The use of hospitals for terrorist activities, firing mortar shells from civilian areas, and for holding hostages are against the international law,” Hagari stated. 

The IDF also announced the death of Staff Sgt. Rotem Sahar Hadar, 20, from Kfar Aviv, a soldier in a paratrooper unit who was killed during the activity around the hospital. 

In the same incident, two soldiers and a combat officer from a paratrooper unit were seriously wounded during an encounter with the terrorists. Other soldiers were wounded in the incident, along with several hospital guests. 

On Thursday evening, Hagari revealed footage from the interrogation of a Hamas terrorist, who confessed that "dozens of Hamas operatives were at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis during the war.” 

During the interrogation, the terrorist described how Hamas operatives "guarded the gates and entrances of the hospital buildings." He also said that “at least ten abductees were held there.” 

The terrorist admitted that Hamas stored weapons in the hospital and also said that Hamas operatives in the hospital surrounded themselves with displaced civilians. “They exploit civilians to protect themselves, human shields, that's what they called it,” he said.