Israeli Military Rescues Hostages in Special Operation in Rafah, Gaza
In a daring overnight operation, the Israeli military successfully rescued two hostages who had been held captive by Hamas for the past 128 days. The operation took place in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza that had been under intense Israeli airstrikes throughout the night. The hostages, identified as 60-year-old Fernando Simon Marman and 70-year-old Louis Har, were taken during Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7th.
Both hostages were found to be in good medical condition and were immediately transferred to Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer for further care. The rescue mission was a joint effort between the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), the Israeli Security Agency, and the Israel Police. IDF spokesperson Danial Hagari revealed that the operation, which involved extraction under fire, commenced at 1:49 a.m. local time and was followed by aerial strikes.
The Israeli forces faced resistance from Hamas during the operation, but they managed to safely escort the hostages out of danger and bring them to a secure location within Rafah for medical attention. From there, they were airlifted out of Gaza by helicopter. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised the operation as an “impressive release operation” and revealed that he had closely monitored it from the Command Center along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior commanders.
It was disclosed that both hostages had been kidnapped from the Nir Yitzhak kibbutz, which was among several kibbutzim near the Gaza border that came under attack by Hamas militants on October 7th. This rampage resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the abduction of over 240 individuals.
While Israel celebrated the successful rescue mission, the country’s response to Hamas’ attack has led to widespread devastation across Gaza. The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry reported that the death toll since October 7th has surpassed 27,500. The situation in Rafah remains dire, with the city being subjected to continuous Israeli attacks. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) stated that over 100 people were killed in overnight airstrikes, and the number may rise as more individuals are still trapped under rubble. However, CNN cannot independently verify these figures.
The Rafah municipality revealed that at least two mosques and around a dozen homes were targeted in the Israeli strikes. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that they conducted a series of strikes on targets in the Shaboura district of Rafah. The IDF stated that the strikes have concluded, but Hamas condemned them as “forced displacement attempts” and “horrific massacres against defenseless civilians and displaced children, women, and the elderly.” The militant group also placed blame on US President Joe Biden and his administration for the civilian deaths.
In a conversation between Biden and Netanyahu, they discussed a deal to secure the release of hostages in Gaza and Israel’s planned ground assault on Rafah. The White House emphasized that any military operation in Rafah should only proceed with a credible plan to ensure the safety and support of the more than one million people seeking shelter there.
Rafah has become a refuge for Palestinians fleeing south to escape Israel’s air and ground campaigns across Gaza. With over 1.3 million people believed to be in Rafah, most of whom have been displaced from other parts of Gaza, there is growing international concern about an imminent ground assault. Netanyahu dismissed criticism of the plans, stating that not entering Rafah would be like telling Israel to lose the war. He pledged to provide safe passage for civilians but provided few details.
As tensions continue to rise, the world watches anxiously, hoping for a peaceful resolution that will spare innocent lives and bring an end to the conflict in Gaza.