In a daring and complex rescue operation, Israeli forces successfully freed two Israeli-Argentine hostages who were held captive by Hamas in the city of Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip. The operation involved intense strikes in the area, resulting in a significant number of casualties. The hostages, Louis Har and Fernando Marman, who were kidnapped on October 7th, have been taken to the Sheba Medical Center in central Israel and are reported to be in good condition.
The operation began with a series of Israeli strikes in the Shaboura area of Rafah, causing panic among the Palestinian population already displaced by the war. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strikes and later announced the successful rescue operation. IDF spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari provided more details about the operation, describing it as a complex rescue under fire. The special forces breached a building in Rafah where the hostages were held, engaged in heavy exchanges of fire with armed Hamas terrorists, and successfully extracted the hostages while under fire. A soldier was lightly wounded in the operation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the bravery of the Israeli forces and emphasized the need for continued military pressure until the release of all remaining hostages. As of now, 134 hostages are still being held by Hamas, with some presumed dead.
The rescue operation resulted in extensive damage in Rafah, with multiple buildings destroyed and casualties reported. Residents reported gunfire from attack helicopters and naval vessels, as well as air strikes on mosques and residential homes. The situation caused fear and terror among the population.
The IDF released video footage of the rescue operation, showing commandos entering the building where the hostages were held and an air strike on an adjacent building. The footage also revealed the destruction of the al-Huda mosque and the Kuwait Speciality Hospital. The hospital received casualties with traumatic injuries, including amputations, and children were among the dead and wounded.
Hamas condemned the Israeli operation as part of their ongoing “genocidal war” against the Palestinian people. The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry also denounced the Israeli “massacre” in Rafah, calling for international intervention.
The United Nations issued a warning about the potential for a full Israeli invasion of Rafah, stating that it would be terrifying. The situation in Rafah remains tense as warnings mount.
