The Israeli army says it has rescued two Hamas hostages from the Gaza Strip. Both were in good health and were taken to Sheba Hospital in central Israel for medical examination. The liberation operation was accompanied by heavy air raids.
The two hostages, aged 60 and 70, were released overnight during a joint operation between the army, security forces and Israeli police in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. The Israeli army had previously announced a series of attacks in the area. As Palestinian news agency WAFA reported, citing medical personnel in the city, dozens of people were killed and several others injured in the heavy Israeli airstrikes.
According to Army spokesman Richard Hecht, the two men were rescued from the second floor of a building and heavy gunfire ensued. Accordingly, Israel’s domestic secret service Shin Bet and the Special Police Unit were involved in the liberation operation. Both men were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on October 7.
Air strikes in support of the special forces
The airstrikes were carried out to allow the special forces to withdraw, Hecht explained. According to eyewitnesses, planes, tanks and ships were involved in the attacks.
Netanyahu: “Safe corridor” for citizens
Meanwhile, preparations for the Israeli ground offensive in Rafah continued. These will “likely take some time” and have not yet been presented to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a New York Times report. Netanyahu’s plan met with international criticism, including from Austria and the UN. US President Joe Biden called for a convincing concept for the protection of the civilian population there. Netanyahu promised that there would be a “safe corridor” for citizens.
Source: Krone
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