RAFA, Gaza Strip (AP) – Israeli forces raided a heavily guarded apartment building in a heavily populated area of the Gaza Strip early Monday morning and rescued two hostages. Gaza Strip Local authorities said at least 67 Palestinians were killed as they rescued them amid airstrikes and covering fire.
The plight of the hostages has deeply shaken the Israeli public, and the rescue in Rafah briefly lifted spirits in a nation still reeling from last year's Hamas cross-border raid that sparked the war. Israel explained Rafah — southernmost city The Gaza Strip, where 1.4 million Palestinians have fled fighting elsewhere, signaled that ground attacks could soon target the city as the last remaining Hamas stronghold in the region.
In Gaza, the operation was the latest tragedy in a war that has killed 28,340 Palestinians in the area, displaced more than 80% of the population and triggered a massive humanitarian crisis.
More than 12,300 Palestinian minors (children and teenagers) have been killed in the conflict, it said. Ministry of Health in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said on Monday. Approximately 8,400 women were among those killed. This means that minors account for approximately 43% of the deaths, and women and minors together account for three-quarters.
The ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, provided the breakdown in response to a request from The Associated Press. Israel claims to have killed about 10,000 Hamas fighters.
in Hamas cross-border attack According to Israeli authorities, an estimated 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed on October 7, and the insurgents took 250 prisoners.
Israel has announced that about 100 hostages remain held by Hamas after dozens were freed during a ceasefire in November. Hamas also holds the remains of around 30 people killed on October 7 or who died in captivity.
The government has made the destruction of Hamas's military and governance capabilities, as well as the release of hostages, the most important goals of the war.However, as the battle drags onNow in the 5th month, A rift has opened in Israel About how to get them.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says sustained military pressure will lead to the prisoners' freedom, even as families of the hostages and many supporters call on the government to strike a new deal with Hamas. Ta.
dramatic attack
Israeli military spokesman Lead Adm. Daniel Hagari said special forces entered Rafah's second-floor apartment under fire at 1:49 a.m. Monday, followed by airstrikes on the surrounding area a minute later. Stated. He said Hamas militants were guarding the prisoners and members of the rescue team physically protected the hostages when fighting broke out.
The military identified the rescued people as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Haar, 70, who were abducted by Hamas militants from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on October 7. did. They also have Argentine nationality.They're only his three and he's one. hostages are rescued; A female soldier was rescued in November.
Hagari said the rescue, which was based on accurate intelligence and had been planned for some time, was a morale booster for the Israelis, but he said the rescue was based on accurate information and was a morale booster for the Israelis, but that it would not be possible to free the remaining hostages, who are believed to be scattered and hiding in the tunnels. It's a small step towards victory.
Idan Begerano, Ha's son-in-law, who saw the released prisoners at the airlifted hospital, said the two were thin and pale, but communicated well and were aware of their surroundings. .
According to Begerano, as soon as Herr met Begerano, he said, “It's your birthday today, Mazar Tov.” A video released by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office showed the men tearfully exchanging long hugs with relatives at the hospital.
Dozens killed in strike
The airstrikes hit crowded Rafah in the middle of the night, and dozens of explosions were heard around 2 a.m., health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Khidra said, killing at least 67 people, including women and children. said.
Alkidra said rescue teams were still searching the rubble. An Associated Press reporter counted at least 50 bodies at Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah.
Mohamed Zoghlub, a Palestinian living in Rafah, said he saw black jeeps speeding through the town, followed by clashes and heavy airstrikes.
“With the airstrikes, we found ourselves running in all directions with our children,” he said from an area flattened by airstrikes.
Footage circulating on social media from Kuwait Hospital in Rafah showed children killed or injured. The footage could not be immediately confirmed, but was consistent with an Associated Press report.
A young man was also seen carrying the body of an infant who died in the attack. He said the girl was her neighbor's daughter, who was born during the war and killed in action.
“Let Prime Minister Netanyahu come and take a look. Is this one of your designated targets?” he said.
Concerns about Rapha
Prime Minister Netanyahu said sending ground forces to Rafah was essential to achieving Israel's war goals. The White House announced Sunday that President Joe Biden warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel should not conduct military operations without a “credible and workable” plan to protect civilians.
More than half of Gaza's 2.3 million people are currently packed into RafaThere, hundreds of thousands of people live in vast tent camps and overcrowded UN shelters.
Mr. Biden said in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Netanyahu: his most powerful words ever About possible operations.
discussion about the possibility of A cease-fire agreement made up the bulk of the calls.said a senior US government official. The official said that after weeks of diplomacy, a “framework” was “almost” in place for a deal to release Palestinian prisoners and the remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for a cessation of fighting. Stated.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations, acknowledged that “differences remain” but declined to provide further details. The official said military pressure on Hamas in the southern city of Khan Yunis in recent weeks had brought it closer to accepting the deal.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office declined to comment on the call. Hamas' Al-Aqsa television station earlier quoted an unnamed Hamas official as saying an invasion of Rafah would “explode” it. Talks mediated by the US, Egypt and Qatar.
Biden and Netanyahu meet after remarks by two Egyptian officials and a Western diplomat threatened to suspend the peace treaty If troops are sent to Rafah, we will cooperate with Israel.
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This article has been updated to correct that the number of minors killed was approximately 43% of Gaza's overall death toll, not 47%.
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Mr. Federman reported from Jerusalem and Mr. Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writer Colleen Long in Washington contributed to this report.
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