The United States provided support to the successful Israeli security forces raid that rescued four living hostages from captivity in Gaza, with two U.S. officials confirming the U.S. role as mainly in the form of intelligence support. The U.S. military did not participate in the operation, and one Israeli special operator lost their life during the rescue operation. The Biden administration has been providing support to Israel on hostage issues since October 7, offering diplomatic, intelligence, and at times, military support. The U.S. has acknowledged providing overhead surveillance support in the past to help locate hostages. Nearly 100 Palestinians were killed during the rescue operation.
Video footage circulating online showed an IDF helicopter taking off from the beach with the U.S. pier in the background, leading to confusion about the U.S. role in the operation. However, two U.S. officials clarified that the U.S. pier was not used in the IDF operation, as it is offshore to assist in delivering humanitarian aid. The helicopter landed south of the pier on a beach but not within the cordoned area. U.S. Central Command reiterated that the pier facility, equipment, personnel, and assets were not used in the hostage rescue operation. About 1.1 million pounds of aid were delivered through the pier on Saturday after repairs were completed.
Diplomatic efforts are ongoing to negotiate the release of the remaining hostages, including five unaccounted-for U.S. citizens. Hamas commander Yahya Sinwar had not yet officially responded to the latest offer to bundle a release of the most vulnerable hostages with a release of Palestinian prisoners and a surge of humanitarian relief during a six-week cessation of violence. The Biden administration hopes to extend the cessation into a longer-term ceasefire and ultimately end the war. A sticking point in the negotiations has been the reference to a “permanent ceasefire,” rebranded as a “sustainable calm,” which is politically sensitive in Israel.
Among the hostages believed to be held in Gaza are five unaccounted-for U.S. citizens and the remains of three other American citizens. The negotiations for a potential deal include a Phase One involving a sustainable calm and Phase Two focusing on a permanent end to hostilities, with details requiring agreement based on the success of the initial phase. U.S. officials are hopeful for a longer-term ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages, working towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict. David Martin, Clarie Day, Olivia Gazis, and Ed O’Keefe contributed to the report, detailing the ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages in Gaza and achieve a lasting peace in the region.
