Southern Command Commander Yaron Finkelman vowed on Saturday that the military operation in Shifa Hospital will end “only when the last of the terrorists is in our hands – dead or alive.”
Finkelman held a situation assessment at the hospital in Gaza City on Friday with Intelligence Directorate (J2) head Maj.-Gen. Aharon Haliva, 162nd Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Itzik Cohen, and Shayetet 13 Commander Capt. A.
“The operation here in Shifa is significant,” Finkelman said, “A daring, tricky, and most impressive operation so far. It struck hundreds of terrorists, apprehended hundreds of terrorists, and brought in significant operational and intelligence assets.
“We are continuing with this operation, the leadership of the commanders is excellent, and we will finish this operation only when the last terrorist is in our hands – alive or dead. Great appreciation for the soldiers, great appreciation for the commanders; keep moving forward, do not stop for a moment.”
The Shifa Hospital operation
The Shifa Hospital operation began on Monday, and since then, more than 170 terrorists in the hospital and surrounding area have been eliminated, including senior Hamas officials.
Senior officials captured by the IDF include Nablus terror leader Amad Atzida and Hamdala Hassan Ali, who has managed much of the terror in the Qalqilya area.
Mahmoud Kawasme, the last terrorist conspirer connected to the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers in 2014, has also been arrested in the area.
Israeli forces questioned over 800 suspects and located numerous weapons and terrorist infrastructures.
The IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) conducted additional raids into the hospital on Friday as part of ongoing ground operations in the Gaza Strip.
The joint forces eliminated dozens of terrorists during the last day’s raid, according to an IDF spokesperson.
“The IDF and Shin Bet are continuing to conduct precise operational activity in the Shifa Hospital area while preventing harm to civilians, patients, medical teams, and medical equipment.”
Reuters contributed to this report.