Two hostages, Louis Haar and Fernando Marman, have been successfully extracted by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in a joint operation conducted in Rafah, according to IDF spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner. Lerner confirmed that the hostages are in good condition and are currently receiving medical care on Israeli soil.
The operation to rescue the hostages was complex and required breaching the residential building where they were being held. The IDF had to engage and neutralize the terrorists responsible for their captivity. However, Lerner denied the claim made by the Palestinian Red Crescent Society that 100 civilians lost their lives during the operation. He stated that he wouldn't accept figures released by Gaza and that there is a broad range of conflicting numbers being reported.
