The invention provides a surgical suture apparatus for passing a double-ended surgical needle forwards and backwards. The surgical apparatus comprises a first jaw element and a second jaw element, and an operating device to operate a first holding device in the first jaw element and a second holding device in the second jaw element to alternately hold a first needle-end by the first holding device and a second needle-end by the second holding device. The first jaw element and second jaw element are movable with respect to each other between a take-over position and an open position. The operating device comprises a switch device movable between a first operating position, in which a needle is held by the first holding device, and a second operating position, in which the needle is held by the second holding device, and an activation device configured to move the switch device between the first operating position and the second operating position. The activation device comprises a spring and a release device, wherein the spring is configured to be pre-tensioned during movement of the first jaw element and second jaw element, from the open position to the take-over position, and wherein the release device is configured to release, upon activation, the pre-tensioned spring to move the switch device between the first operating position and the second operating position.
