Hostages freed in Rafah assault that left 52 dead
GAZA STRIP: The Israeli military said two hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 had been rescued in an overnight operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which reportedly killed 52 people.
Heavy air strikes rained down on the densely crowded city before dawn on Monday, with the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry reporting the death toll.
The strikes hit 14 houses and three mosques in different parts of Rafah, according to the Hamas government.
Israel said in a statement that “during a joint IDF (military), ISA (Shin Bet security agency), and Israel Police operation in Rafah, overnight, two Israeli hostages were rescued, Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Louis Har (70), who were kidnapped by the Hamas terrorist organisation on October 7th from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak”.
“They are both in good medical condition and were transferred for medical examination at the Sheba Tel Hashomer hospital,” the statement added
The Israeli military said it had “conducted a series of strikes on terror targets in the area of Shaboura in the southern Gaza Strip”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his army to prepare a ground offensive on Rafah, Gaza’s last major population centre that troops have yet to enter since Hamas’s October 7 attacks sparked the war.
Hamas had warned Israel that a ground offensive in Rafah would imperil future hostage releases.
“Any attack by the occupation army on the city of Rafah would torpedo the exchange negotiations,” a Hamas leader told AFP US President Joe Biden urged the protection of civilians in the besieged territory, while other foreign governments and aid groups also voiced deep concern over Mr Netanyahu’s vow to extend operations into the city.
About 1.4 million Palestinians have crowded into Rafah, on the border with Egypt, with many living in tents while food, water and medicine are becoming increasingly scarce.