At least three Hezbollah operatives captured during Israel’s latest round of fighting were treated at Ziv Medical Center in Safed, where they were held under Israel Defense Forces guard while receiving medical care, according to two people with direct knowledge cited by The Times of Israel. The same hospital also recently treated a young Syrian Druze civilian from the village of Khader near the Israeli-Syrian border, who was accompanied by her mother, according to a separate source with direct knowledge.
The report says the Hezbollah detainees were treated at Ziv about two weeks ago and were kept handcuffed and blindfolded in a room secured by IDF soldiers. Neither the army nor the hospital denied the cases, which raise questions about Israel’s military and humanitarian medical policy and an internal dispute over treating enemy fighters in civilian hospitals.
If confirmed, the hospital treatment would appear to conflict with a Health Ministry decision issued shortly after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, under which captured terrorists were to be treated only at IDF or Israel Prison Service medical facilities. The IDF did not deny the report. In a response to The Times of Israel, it said that over the past year suspects involved in terrorism against Israeli civilians or soldiers have been detained, and those needing treatment receive it from IDF medical teams or, when necessary, are transferred to hospitals.
Ziv Medical Center declined to confirm details, citing medical confidentiality, privacy and security concerns, but did not deny that such patients were treated there. The hospital said it acts according to law, state instructions and medical ethics, and treats anyone who arrives in need of care. The Health Ministry did not respond. Ziv also did not answer questions about whether staff objected, whether nearby patients were informed, or whether requests were made to move the detainees to a military facility. The IDF said detainees receive regular medical checks, and that if hospital treatment is required, there are 24/7 security and supervision measures. On the Syrian civilian, the army said it provides lifesaving medical aid to Syrians under a preapproved policy coordinated with relevant agencies.
