Israeli Forces Find ‘Large Amount of Military Equipment’ at Shifa Hospital

Latest Developments

Israeli forces uncovered weapons hidden throughout Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on March 25. “The operation was launched after receiving precise intelligence about the return of terrorists and the return of the hospital being used as a base for Hamas leadership,” a commander of the elite Shayetet 13 naval commando unit said. “During the raid, we found a large amount of military equipment hidden among medical supplies, patients, and visitors who were in the hospital.” Israeli troops have been operating in and around Shifa Hospital since launching a surprise raid on the facility on March 18. The operation has captured more than 800 suspects and eliminated more than 170 terrorists.

Expert Analysis

“The large number of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists captured and eliminated at Shifa Hospital reflects the terrorist groups’ attempts to reconstitute themselves after the IDF cleared the facility in November. This illustrates how the terrorists use the hospital as a shield for their activities, and it shows they believed that they had the impunity to return to Shifa. The IDF’s multi-day operation to defeat terrorists at Shifa Hospital is incredibly important for ending the terror threat from Gaza.” — Seth J. Frantzman, FDD Adjunct Fellow

“The ongoing clashes near Shifa Hospital indicate that Hamas still poses a threat in northern Gaza despite extensive Israeli operations in the area. This outcome was predicted by Israeli officials early on in the conflict. They warned about a prolonged effort to dismantle Hamas’s military capabilities and ultimately remove the group from power in Gaza.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

Terrorists Barricade Themselves in Shifa Hospital

Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists have barricaded themselves in Shifa Hospital, IDF spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said on March 24. The terrorists continued to fight the IDF on the grounds of the hospital six days after the IDF raid began, Hagari said. “Hamas is destroying Shifa Hospital. Hamas is firing from inside the Shifa Emergency Room and Maternity Ward and throwing explosive devices from the Shifa Burn Ward,” he noted. Additionally, terrorists fired mortars at the IDF and damaged hospital buildings. “Hamas hijacked the Shifa Hospital and hides behind the sick and injured, waging war from inside Shifa Hospital,” Hagari added. The operation against Hamas in Gaza is one of the largest since October 7, The Jerusalem Post reported on March 25, citing IDF sources.

Related Analysis

“IDF Raid on Gaza Hospital Captures Largest Number of Terrorists Since War Began,” FDD Flash Brief

“Hamas Member Admits It Uses Hospital as Command Center,” FDD Flash Brief

“10 Things to Know About Hamas and Hospitals,” FDD Insight