Israeli special forces have successfully rescued four hostages held in Nuseirat, central Gaza, amid ongoing attacks and airstrikes that have resulted in the deaths of at least 93 Palestinians, including children, according to local medics.
The rescue operation, the largest of the current conflict, brought back three men and one woman who had been kidnapped at the Nova music festival. The freed hostages were identified as Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40.
While celebrations erupted in Israel over the successful rescue on Saturday night, Palestinians in Gaza mourned the loss of dozens of lives and cared for the injured in the overcrowded al-Aqsa Martyrs' Hospital, the only partially functioning facility in the area. Khalil Degran, a spokesperson for the hospital, reported that nearly 100 bodies and over 100 injured individuals were brought in. Additionally, the total number of deaths, including those taken to al-Awda Hospital, was reported to be 210.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the Israeli attacks, describing them as a “bloody massacre” and called for an emergency UN Security Council session. The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, also condemned the attacks and called for a ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages.
Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari confirmed the deaths of dozens of Palestinians but did not specify the number of civilian casualties.
The complex rescue operation was conducted under heavy fire, involving air force and special forces with naval support. One team had to call for backup after encountering militants, successfully extracting the hostages under heavy bombardment. The Israeli defense minister, Yoav Gallant, hailed the operation as one of the most extraordinary in his military career.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the raid as a historic achievement and proof that "Israel does not surrender to terrorism." However, one officer from the counter-terrorism police unit was killed during the operation.
Netanyahu has faced increasing international and domestic pressure to agree to a ceasefire and ensure the return of all Israelis captured on October 7. While seven hostages have been freed by Israeli forces, the majority were released under a temporary ceasefire deal last November. Around 120 Israelis are still held in Gaza, with a third presumed dead.
Families of the remaining hostages welcomed the return of the four but urged the government to negotiate a ceasefire to secure the release of their loved ones. Ayala Metzger, the daughter-in-law of an 80-year-old hostage who recently died in captivity, stressed the urgency of reaching a deal.
A spokesperson for Hamas’s armed brigades, Abu Ubaida, claimed that some Israeli hostages were killed during the raid, though no evidence was provided.
All four freed hostages were reported to be in good health and were reunited with their families after medical checks in an Israeli hospital. Noa Argamani, one of the most well-known hostages due to a widely shared video of her abduction, was reunited with her mother, who is battling stage four cancer, and her father, who described her release as a “gift.”
US intelligence supported the Israeli mission, and President Joe Biden welcomed the return of the hostages, emphasizing the ongoing effort to secure the release of all captives and reach a ceasefire.
Netanyahu has insisted that the war will not end until Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are freed. However, Hamas has refused any temporary halt in fighting. The successful rescue operation may temporarily alleviate domestic pressure on Netanyahu to negotiate a hostage release deal.
After the rescue, political rival Benny Gantz delayed a planned speech, consulting allies on whether the raid represented a significant change in the war's course. Netanyahu called for unity, urging Gantz to remain in the government.
Gantz responded with caution, indicating that the prime minister and his team must carefully consider how to proceed.
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