By: Fern Sidman

In a precision strike that highlights the continued exploitation of civilian infrastructure by terrorist groups in Gaza, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Thursday targeted and eliminated two senior Islamic Jihad operatives who had been using a hospital courtyard in Gaza City as a command center while posing as journalists. As reported by Israel National News, the operation was conducted in the vicinity of the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital and was based on verified intelligence.

The IDF named the two operatives as Suleiman Hani Saliman Hajaj and Samir al-Rifai, both of whom were actively engaged in orchestrating attacks against Israeli forces and civilians from a so-called “media” outpost strategically positioned within hospital grounds. According to the information provided in the Israel National News report, the courtyard had been transformed into a command-and-control center from which Islamic Jihad coordinated its military operations under the cover of journalistic activities.

In a statement following the strike, the IDF reiterated its longstanding warning about the systematic misuse of medical institutions by terrorist organizations in Gaza: “The terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip continue to use hospitals for terrorist purposes, cynically and cruelly exploiting the civilian population inside the hospital and its surroundings.”

This tactic, which deliberately violates international humanitarian law, is not new. As Israel the report at Israel National News emphasized, Thursday’s strike reflects a broader pattern whereby Islamic Jihad and other terror factions manipulate journalistic cover and civilian sanctuaries to shield themselves from IDF targeting while continuing their deadly operations.

The strike echoes a December 2023 operation in which the IDF eliminated a five-man Islamic Jihad cell operating out of Nuseirat in central Gaza. In that earlier strike, the operatives were also disguising themselves as journalists while engaged in active combat support and propaganda dissemination, Israel National News reported.

Among the neutralized terrorists were Ibrahim Jamal Ibrahim Al-Sheikh Ali – Islamic Jihad operations and propaganda operative, Faisal Abdallah Muhammad Abu Qamsan – Head of Security for Islamic Jihad in Nuseirat, Mohammed Ayad Khamis al-Lada’a – Combat propagandist. Ayman Nihad Abd Alrahman Jadi – Former naval operative and propaganda figure and Fadi Ihab Muhammad Ramadan Hassouna – Combat propagandist for the group.

These operatives used media credentials to facilitate their movements and obscure their affiliations, capitalizing on protections afforded to journalists under international conventions, the Israel National News report noted.

Anticipating criticism from international observers and human rights groups, the IDF proactively addressed the legitimacy of its targeting decision. In its statement, the military disclosed that its action was informed by multi-source intelligence, including intercepted communications, operational footage and captured documents, including a list of confirmed Islamic Jihad operatives obtained during ground operations in Gaza.

Israel National News reported that this list explicitly named four of the five men killed in the December operation as known terrorists affiliated with Islamic Jihad, lending credence to the IDF’s assertion that its targets were combatants rather than civilians.

“Intelligence from multiple sources confirmed that these individuals were Islamic Jihad operatives posing as journalists,” the IDF stated. “This was not a mistake; it was a deliberate counter-terrorism operation against disguised threats.”

The IDF’s actions highlight the strategic complexity of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where combatants frequently blend into the civilian population and utilize protected institutions, such as hospitals and press associations, as shields. This deeply cynical practice not only endangers innocent lives but also undermines the credibility of legitimate journalists operating in conflict zones.

The increasing weaponization of journalistic cover poses serious challenges for both military planners and ethical watchdogs, as was observed in the Israel National News report.  While Israel faces intense scrutiny for strikes in civilian areas, terrorist groups are rarely held accountable for their calculated use of human shields and protected facilities.

The IDF has pledged to continue targeting terrorist infrastructure and personnel, including those who exploit humanitarian institutions to wage war against the Israeli people. Meanwhile, military spokespeople have urged international media organizations to more rigorously vet local hires and freelance contributors in conflict areas, warning that some may be complicit in terrorist propaganda operations.

As the Israel National News report indicated, the war in Gaza continues to unfold not only on the battlefield, but also in the contested information space—where truth, deception, and deadly intent often blur under the guise of press credentials.