As of: February 12, 2024, 7:13 a.m
By: Bedrettin Bölükbasi
Comments
Press
Split
The Israeli army rescued two hostages in a night attack on the town of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.
The news ticker.
Two hostages
rescued
during war in Israel
: “It took a long time to prepare”
Israeli army
frees
two hostages
: Hamas complains about “massacre” in Rafah
The information processed here about the war in Israel and the fight against Hamas in the Gaza Strip
comes from local and international media as well as news agencies.
Much of the information cannot be independently verified.
Rafah – Israel's military says it has rescued two hostages during massive nighttime attacks in the Rafah area in the south of the Gaza Strip.
The two abductees, aged 60 and 70, Fernando Simon Marman and Norberto Louis Har, were rescued during a joint operation by the military, the Shin Bet security service and the Israeli police during the night in Rafah and are in good health, the Israeli military said on early Monday morning.
Two hostages rescued during war in Israel: “It took a long time to prepare”
Army spokesman Daniel Hagari spoke of a “complex operation in the heart of Rafah,” the Times
of Israel
reported.
It was not easy to reach the target building in the city.
Israeli soldiers gained access to the building through a locked door and rescued the hostages from the second floor.
They were led into an armored vehicle and finally evacuated by helicopter.
Smoke rises after explosions from an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip.
(Archive image) © Ariel Schalit
“The Israeli army and Shin Bet have been preparing for this operation for a long time,” said Hagari.
So far, however, there have not been the right conditions.
According to the spokesman, an Israeli soldier was slightly injured during the rescue operation.
“Very strong firepower” from the air was used to shoot at Hamas militants who opened fire.
“Many terrorists were eliminated tonight,” Hagari explained, saying the operation lasted an hour.
Defense Minister Joav Gallant praised the Israeli army's “impressive” operation.
He followed the operation together with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and high-ranking Israeli commanders.
Knesset Chairman Amir Ohana similarly spoke of an “impressive, heroic and complex” rescue operation.
This gave hope to the entire nation.
My news
NATO response to Putin's air strikes: Experts fear rapid fire read
Ukrainian secret service sure: Russia uses Starlink on the front read
Emergency situation for Putin's troops: Swedish tank mixes up the front
Russia continues to arm itself: “Dragon” flamethrower is said to cause devastating damage
Partial repeat of the Berlin election: traffic light coalition with losses
Ukraine is threatened with a serious loss of Avdiivka: Kiev is therefore taking a tank risk reading
Israeli army frees two hostages: Hamas complains about “massacre” in Rafah
Shortly before, the army had announced a series of attacks in the Shabura area near Rafah, where hundreds of thousands of Palestinian internally displaced people are currently seeking protection.
According to Palestinian reports, more than 100 people were killed in the night attacks, including children and women.
The information provided by both sides could not initially be independently verified.
Israel is planning a military offensive on Rafah, which is causing significant international criticism.
According to a media report, the planning is still ongoing.
Hamas released a statement about the attacks on Rafah, calling it a “massacre.”
The nightly airstrikes are a “continuation of the war of genocide and the effort to forcibly expel Palestinians.”
US President Joe Biden and the entire US government would take part, while the Israeli army ignored decisions of the International Court of Justice, it said.
(bb/dpa)