Two captives were freed by Israeli forces in Gaza, while airstrikes in the southern city of Rafah claimed the lives of other people.
Following a difficult operation supported by airstrikes, Israeli special forces were able to free the captives, Fernando Simon Marman and Louis Har, who had been detained by Hamas for 128 days.
The rescue operation, carried out early Monday morning, saw the Israeli military deploying a combination of intelligence, internal security services, police special forces, and an IDF tank brigade. The hostages were found in the hands of Hamas terrorists, with Israeli ground forces encountering resistance throughout the mission.
Despite the success of the rescue, the airstrikes led to significant loss of life in Rafah. Reports suggest that over 100 Palestinians were killed in the strikes, though the exact number remains unverified. The intensity of the bombardment raised concerns about a potential ground offensive, particularly in a city already reeling from shortages of essential resources and described as a “pressure cooker of despair” by the UN.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced mounting pressure to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, with some families openly critical of the government’s tactics. The successful rescue operation marks a rare achievement amid ongoing tensions between Israel and Palestinian militant groups.
Hamas condemned the airstrikes as “horrific massacres against defenseless civilians and displaced children, women, and the elderly,” placing blame on the Biden administration for its role in the civilian deaths.
Efforts to secure a deal for the release of more hostages in Gaza remain uncertain, with previous agreements collapsing and negotiations stalled.
