IDF and Shin Bet activity in Shifa continues: This week, the 401st Special Operations Battalion, 13th Battalion, Shin Bet fighters and coordinators under the 162nd Division Command led the special operation at Shifa Hospital.
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The division operates in the northern and central Gaza Strip, significantly damaging the capabilities of the Hamas terrorist organization.
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So far, about 600 terrorists have been arrested and over 140 terrorists have been eliminated in exchanges of fire. During the searches at the hospital, numerous weapons and intelligence documents were located that contribute to the continuation of the fighting.
The IDF says that the Islamic Jihad terrorists in the hospital compound made a decision to surrender, and among them were senior figures who were transferred for interrogation by the Shin Bet, including: Hawasim Salameh - head of the observations file in the Gaza Brigade and his brother, and Asem Salameh - head of the Islamic Jihad's combat information system in Gaza.
Also among those arrested are three senior figures in Hamas' West Bank headquarters, who direct terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria and were transferred for Shin Bet interrogation: Omar Asida, head of the Nablus Committee responsible for Hamas' terrorist activity in the region, Mahmoud Qawasma, one of the planners and financiers of the kidnapping of the three boys in 2014, and Hamdallah Hassan Ali, who in recent years has promoted terrorist activities in Judea and Samaria.
Fighting in the hospital area continues, with many contacts with the enemy and exchanges of fire. The forces continue to operate and scan the area, locate weapons and arrest terrorists in face-to-face encounters.
The IDF estimates that there are another 50 terrorists in the hospital, including about 20 senior figures.
During the operation at the hospital, which began on Monday, the forces found terrorists hiding inside the air conditioning ducts, plaster walls and other hiding places. Fighters from Squadron 13 eliminated terrorists hiding behind a plaster ceiling.
The commander of the 162nd Division, Brigadier General Itzik Cohen, spoke to the commanders: "Very proud of you. Proud of your personal example, striving for contact, spirit, courage and leadership. It conveys confidence. You are simply doing an extraordinary job. There will be more difficult moments, you need to continue forward with all your strength.".
Defense Minister Yoav Galant spoke with combat reconnaissance fighters: "The operation in Shifa surprised the terrorists - what we did at the beginning of the war in Shavuot, we succeeded this time in minutes. The terrorists who are entrenched are considering their future: 'surrender or death.'".
