The invention relates to a surgical suture apparatus (1) for open and/ or endoscopic surgery configured to pass a double-ended surgical needle (100) backwards and forwards between a first jaw element (2) and a second jaw (3) element, the jaw elements each comprising a holding device (5, 6)to hold a respective needle end of the surgical needle, wherein the first and/or second jaw element are biased to an open position with a first biasing force. The apparatus further comprises an operating device (13) to operate the first and second holding devices, wherein the operating device comprises a first operating organ (14) biased in the normal position by one or more second spring elements (20) with a second biasing force, wherein the first biasing force is smaller than the second biasing force such that exerting an actuation force on the first operating organ first results in movement of the first and second jaw element towards each other, and subsequently in actuation of the operating device.
