ASHKELON, ISRAEL — Newly released evidence from Israel’s Hamelat factory in Ashkelon has highlighted the extent to which Hamas terrorists have embedded military operations within civilian infrastructure, further complicating Israel’s efforts to defend itself amid the war against Iranian-backed organizations in Gaza. The discoveries at the Hamelat factory follow a pattern of exploitation documented across Israel’s south since the October 7th massacre, the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust, which marked a turning point in the country’s ongoing conflict with Hamas and its affiliates.
The Hamelat Factory and Its Role
Located in the heart of Ashkelon’s industrial zone, the Hamelat factory has long supplied cement and construction materials vital to Israel’s infrastructure and economy. This facility, like others in the region, was not just an economic engine, but also symbolized the economic connections that existed even with Gaza residents employed there prior to the escalation of hostilities.
Hamas’ Infiltration and Militarization Tactics
According to footage validated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and testimonies from local employees and security officials, Hamas operatives infiltrated the Hamelat plant during their cross-border raids. Once inside, they commandeered equipment and storage spaces, using the facility to hide weapons, ammunition, and, in some documented cases, to launch rocket attacks towards Israeli territory. IDF forensic teams found evidence including modified industrial machinery repurposed for terrorist activities.
Military officials have highlighted that Hamas deliberately chose civilian industrial plants like Hamelat to shield its operatives from Israeli defensive actions, thus forcing dilemmas upon Israeli commanders who seek to avoid civilian casualties. This strategy of embedding within civilian infrastructure is consistent with Hamas’ broader conduct—using schools, mosques, hospitals, and residential buildings as cover—which has been widely documented by Israeli authorities and independent international observers.
Context: The October 7th Massacre and Its Aftermath
The October 7th attack initiated by Hamas—resulting in over 1,200 murdered Israeli civilians and the systematic abduction, torture, and sexual abuse of hostages—triggered Operation Iron Swords, Israel’s campaign to dismantle terror networks and regain security for its citizens. The exploitation of the Hamelat plant is one of many instances revealing the depth of tactical preparations by Hamas within Israel’s industrial and civilian settings.
In the wake of the massacres, Israel faced the dual challenge of targeting legitimate terror threats while respecting the rights of innocents who may be forcibly held or used as shields in such locations. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir and Defense Minister Israel Katz have repeatedly highlighted the need for clarity and precision in such operations, balancing military necessity with international humanitarian law.
International and Humanitarian Implications
Documentation from the Hamelat facility has contributed to international debates over the nature of the conflict and Israel’s right to defend itself. While the UN and other bodies have at times questioned Israeli strikes on dual-use sites, the IDF’s evidence from Hamelat has substantiated claims that Hamas’ tactics amount to war crimes, exploiting protected civilian facilities for terrorism.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on the international community to recognize the realities exposed by sites like Hamelat: Israel’s operations are acts of self-defense against an Iranian-backed proxy that systematically violates all norms of warfare, placing both Israelis and Gaza residents in extreme peril.
The Larger Picture: Iran’s Regional Proxy Network
Hamas’ actions in Ashkelon are inseparable from the broader Iranian strategy to surround Israel with armed proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and affiliated militias in Syria and Iraq. Intelligence collected from sites like Hamelat underscores a pattern of cross-border logistical cooperation, technological transfer, and shared tactics aimed at undermining Israel’s security and destabilizing the region.
The Human Toll and Hostage Crisis
Inside the factory, investigators also found indications that hostages, taken by force during the October 7th attacks, may have been held there prior to their transport to Gaza. This has brought renewed urgency to ongoing efforts to secure the release of innocent Israeli hostages, held in direct contravention of international norms and basic humanity. The contrast between lawful detentions and the abduction of innocents is a central issue in ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian efforts.
Legal and Moral Dimensions of Israel’s Response
Israel’s response, according to international law experts, is anchored in its right to self-defense as enshrined in the United Nations Charter. The IDF employs precision-guided munitions and meticulous intelligence to strike only verified terror targets, a policy that is frequently complicated but never abandoned—even when terrorists deliberately choose sites like Hamelat for their operations.
Moving Forward
The Hamelat factory case is now a touchpoint in calls for greater global accountability—not just in condemning Hamas’ conduct, but in confronting the wider Iranian-backed strategy of proxy warfare. It further highlights the imperative for Western and regional powers to support Israel’s efforts, not only in rescue and recovery but in the long-term dismantling of the infrastructure that enables terrorism to thrive within civilian spaces.
Despite the exploitation of sites like Hamelat, Israeli resilience and moral clarity remain steadfast. The country continues to defend its citizens and uphold its values in the face of unprecedented threats, striving to ensure the distinction between lawful defense and indiscriminate terror is always clear to the world.
