Four Israelis who had been held hostage by Hamas in Gaza for 245 days were rescued in a risky operation by the Israeli military. The captives, three men and one woman, were held in two apartment buildings in a civilian neighborhood among Palestinian families. The operation involved hundreds of intelligence officers and commandos who stormed both buildings simultaneously. A firefight broke out in one apartment, leading to casualties on both sides. The rescue operation resulted in the deaths of scores of Palestinians, leading to conflicting reports on the exact number of casualties.
Israeli intelligence officials had identified the locations where the hostages were being held weeks before the raid. The female captive, Noa Argamani, was being held near the Nuseirat market, while the three male hostages were in another apartment nearby. The decision to conduct the operation in both apartments was made to decrease the risk of hostages being killed. The military conducted extensive preparation, including building models of the houses and practicing the mission to ensure precision and coordination between the two teams.
The raid took place on a normal Saturday morning in Nuseirat, with residents going about their daily activities. Israeli commandos launched the operation simultaneously in both buildings, surprising the captors and resulting in the quick liberation of Noa Argamani. However, the team rescuing the three men faced heavy fire from militants, leading to casualties and intense gunfights. Witnesses reported seeing armed individuals, whom they believed were Israeli special forces, approaching the buildings, indicating a covert operation.
During the escape, one Israeli officer was shot and wounded, and the truck meant for evacuating the hostages broke down, leading to a dramatic rescue. Israeli air forces began bombing nearby targets to provide cover for the hostages and officials. Ground forces eventually transferred the hostages to another vehicle, which took them to the beach where helicopters were waiting for extraction. Chief Inspector Zmora, the wounded officer, later died of his injuries, while the rescued hostages were safely evacuated.
The aftermath of the rescue mission resulted in a high number of casualties among Palestinians, with conflicting reports on the exact number of deaths and injuries. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah was overwhelmed with victims, adding to the strain on the already stretched medical facility. The Gazan Health Ministry reported hundreds of people wounded in the aftermath of the rescue operation. The mission showcased the risks and complexities involved in conducting such operations, emphasizing the challenges faced by both sides in conflict zones.
