In a crucial meeting at the White House, President Biden will be discussing matters with the King of Jordan, the first Arab head of state to visit since the recent Hamas terror attacks on Israel. This meeting comes at a pivotal moment as negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remain deadlocked. Israel, in an overnight operation, conducted a series of airstrikes to free two Israeli hostages in Rafah, resulting in a significant loss of life. The White House has expressed deep concern over the reported death toll.
Israeli military and domestic intelligence agencies had been collecting intelligence in the past month in preparation for the raid. The operation was executed by Israeli special forces who breached a residential building in Rafah, Gaza's southernmost city. The forces successfully rescued the two hostages, a 70-year-old named Luis Har and a 60-year-old named Fernando Marman, amidst gunfire. Following the rescue, the Israeli air force initiated a bombardment of targets in the area to prevent Hamas fighters from interfering in the operation.
