Israel rescues two hostages From Rafah
Two Israeli hostages were rescued from the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Monday morning, the Israel Defence Forces announced.
The hostages were identified as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and and Louis Har, 70. Hamas kidnapped both men from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on October 7.
Both are Israeli-Argentine nationals kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on October 7.
The IDF said both are in good medical condition, and were transferred for medical examination at the Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan.
“Security forces will continue to operate with all means in order to return the hostages home,” the IDF said in a statement.
The Israel Defence Forces said two of its soldiers were killed in a Monday morning rescue of two hostages being held in the southern Gaza town of Rafah.
“The IDF and the Shin Bet have been working on this operation for a long time,” IDF Spokesperson Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said. ““Conditions were not ripe to carry it out until now.”
The IDF said it launched several airstrikes in Rafah as a diversion for the rescue operation. The rescue unit arrived at the building at 1:00 AM.
The force came down from the roof and detonated a bomb to breach a door on the second floor, eliminated the Hamas guards and picked up the two hostages. Other Hamas gunmen fired from nearby buildings, but the soldiers deployed in the street and returned fired at them in a battle that lasted for a long hour.
A Blackhawk helicopter took the hostages to the Sheba Tel Hashomer Hospital in Ramat Gan, to reunite with their families and a medical examination. The IDF said Marman and Har were in good condition.
The fallen soldiers were identified as Maj. Adi Eldor, 21, of Haifa, and Maj. (res.) Alon Kleinman, 21, of Tel Aviv. Both were commandos in the IDF’s elite Maglan unit.
Two other soldiers from Maglan injured during the rescue were hospitalized.
At least 1,200 people were killed and 240 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the remaining 134 hostages, Israel recently declared 31 of them dead.
At least 1,200 people were killed and 240 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the remaining 134 hostages, Israel recently declared 31 of them dead.
Zionist Federation of Australia CEO Alon Cassuto said the rescue showed the value Israel places on human life. “The rescue reiterates the precision and care with which the IDF is operating in Gaza”, he said, “and reminds us all that the instant the hostages are released and Hamas surrenders, the war will end. The terrorist organisation Hamas is holding over a hundred more hostages in tunnels under Rafah. Israel must continue until its people are returned.”
With J-Wire
