Israel rescued four hostages from Gaza on Saturday, marking its largest operation since the conflict with Hamas began.
The Israeli military’s air and ground assault killed at least 94 Palestinians, including children, according to health officials.
The hostages, 25-year-old Noa Argamani, 21-year-old Almog Meir Jan, 27-year-old Andrey Kozlov, and 40-year-old Shlomi Ziv, were freed from Nuseirat. They were airlifted for medical checks and reunited with their families after being held for 246 days.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a statement, promised to continue fighting until all hostages are freed.
According to Israeli Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, the operation was “daring in nature, planned brilliantly, and executed extraordinarily.”
On the other hand, in Gaza, the bodies of nearly 100 Palestinians were taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital, with over 100 wounded, the hospital spokesperson, Khalil Degran, told the Associated Press. Associated Press also reported that a baby was among the dead.
Egypt strongly condemned Israel’s attacks on the Nuseirat refugee camp. The foreign ministry labelled the attacks a “flagrant violation of all rules of international law.”
The United States provided support for the rescue operation, with President Joe Biden assuring that the U.S. “won’t stop working until all the hostages come home and a cease-fire is reached.”
President Biden in France, alongside President @EmmanuelMacron:
“We won’t stop working until all of the hostages come home.”
Thank you @POTUS. pic.x.com/eUBGhzyQ5Y
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) June 8, 2024
Meanwhile, the U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will return to the Middle East next week to seek a breakthrough.
Hamas took around 250 hostages during the October 7 attack, which killed about 1,200 people. Roughly half of the hostages were released during a cease-fire in November. About 120 hostages remain, with 43 declared dead. Survivors include 15 women, two children under 5, and two men in their 80s.
The latest rescue operation brings the total number of freed captives to seven. The bodies of at least 16 hostages have been recovered.
Father and daughter reunited pic.x.com/AtDPOX9iDJ
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) June 8, 2024
International pressure on Israel to limit civilian casualties in Gaza is increasing. The conflict, now in its eighth month, has killed more than 36,700 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Recall that on Thursday, an Israeli airstrike hit a school operated by the U.N. in Nuseirat, Gaza, killing over 33 people, including women and children.
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