After eight long months, four Israeli hostages have been safely rescued from Hamas captivity by IDF forces in a special operation. The hostages were reunited with their families amidst tears of joy following the successful raid on two separate apartments in a central Gaza refugee camp. The operation, which took months of preparation, was necessary as Hamas frequently moves hostages and embeds them in civilian-populated areas like refugee camps.
The rescue mission resulted in reports of heavy shelling and artillery fire, leading to over 200 casualties in Gaza hospitals. The exact number of civilian deaths remains unverified, but this operation marks the first successful hostage rescue since February.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, currently in Paris with President Biden, confirmed that the United States had been supporting Israel in identifying hostage locations in Gaza and aiding in rescue efforts. While U.S. intelligence played a role, there were no U.S. forces or weapons involved in the operation.
Regarding Hamas' claim of additional hostage deaths due to the IDF mission, neither U.S. nor Israeli authorities have confirmed these reports. The focus remains on securing the safe return of all hostages and achieving an enduring ceasefire to protect both hostages and Palestinian civilians.
The U.S. is advocating for Hamas to accept the deal proposed by President Biden and accepted by Israel, which outlines a roadmap to ceasefire and the return of all hostages. Ending the conflict is seen as the best way to ensure the safety of all individuals involved.
