Hamas terrorists were being cared for alongside Israeli victims of the weekend massacres

At least three militants are known to have been treated by the medical system in Israel until the government ordered a stunning reversal, directing they be taken to prison-based facilities | WATCH

A large mob including members of a football supporters group attempt to storm a hospital where a Hamas terrorist is being treated.

A mob of suspected football hooligans tried to storm a public hospital in Israel after it was discovered a Hamas terrorist, captured after weekend massacres in the country’s south, was being treated for injuries alongside victims of the attacks.

At least three militants were known to have been treated by the medical system here until the government ordered a stunning reversal on Wednesday, directing they be taken to prison-based facilities away from the Israeli wounded. Prior to that order, and fearing reprisals from the public, some hospital officials advised security staff in writing to prepare for a violent response.

“We are informed of the admission of terrorists to hospitals in Israel and the possibility of that causing unrest,” the ministry said. “Hospitals need urgent reinforcement to avoid unrest.”

The revelations, first published by local news organisation Ynet, prompted more than 100 people to rush the Sheba Tel HaShomer Medical Centre in the centre of the country on Wednesday evening. A large number were said to be members of the Beitar Jerusalem Football Club and its La Familia supporter base, with footage showing a throng of men pushing their way inside and trying to breach security.

It came as a the Barzilai Medical Centre in the southern city of Ashkelon was hit by rocket fire from Gaza on Wednesday, the second time it’s been struck this week. Multiple rockets were fired at the city, wounding at least 12 people, with a second and third barrage launched shortly after, aimed at Ashdod, Tel Aviv, Rishon Lezion and the rest of Gush Dan in central Israel.

Israelis queue to donate blood at a hospital in Tel Aviv. Picture: AFP

Later, many Israelis across the country rushed to shelter after an erroneous message was disseminated on the country’s Home Front Command mobile app, only for that to be retracted after several minutes of waiting.

Israel has long been known for occasionally treating wounded Palestinian militants in its hospitals, including those responsible for attacks on the state and civilians. But this was practice in place prior to the paradigm-shifting events of the weekend. In a country still experiencing a mass state of mourning over its rising death toll, any remaining policy goodwill appears to have evaporated.

Health Minister Moshe Arbel issued a directive to cease the treatment of terrorists in public hospitals, requesting that Benjamin Netanyahu instruct health agencies to comply with the order. This appears to have been heeded swiftly, with the Sourasky Medical Centre in Tel Aviv announcing on Wednesday that a terrorist brought to the hospital had been redirected to a prison treatment facility elsewhere.

“Since the beginning of the fighting, the issue of treating the damned and despicable Hamas terrorists within the public hospitals has piled up a tremendous difficulty on the health system,” Mr Arbel wrote to the Prime Minister.

“In these difficult times, the health system should focus fully on the treatment of the victims of the criminal massacre, the IDF soldiers and preparedness for the next.

“The task of securing and treating the cursed and despicable terrorists within the public health system significantly harms these efforts and therefore, under my guidance, the public health system will not treat them.”

Mr Arbel said the handling of terrorists should be left with the IDF or the Israel Prison Service, with the Ministry of Health “ready and willing to assist these bodies as much as necessary”.