At least 274 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more were wounded in an Israeli raid that rescued four hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The operation, celebrated as a success by Israelis because all four hostages were rescued alive, highlighted the heavy cost of such operations on top of the already soaring toll of the eight-month-long conflict that began with Hamas’ initial attack in October. Scores of hostages are believed to be held in densely populated areas or inside Hamas’ tunnels, making such operations extremely complex and risky.
The raid in Nuseirat, a built-up refugee camp in central Gaza, was the largest rescue operation since Hamas’ initial attack in October. The operation resulted in over 36,700 Palestinian casualties, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry reported nearly 700 people were wounded in the raid, with several women and children among the casualties. Israel launched a massive offensive in response to the initial attack, resulting in a high number of casualties thus far.
The hostages rescued included Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv, who were abducted during a music festival. In Gaza, medics described scenes of horror and chaos as wounded individuals flooded hospitals that were already struggling to treat casualties from previous Israeli strikes. Doctors Without Borders reported treating a range of war-related injuries, including amputations, eviscerations, and traumatic brain injuries.
Israel’s military spokesman stated that threats to Israeli forces in the area prompted the attack, resulting in the death of a special forces officer during the rescue operation. The hostages were reportedly held in two apartments in the heart of the refugee camp, and the forces faced heavy fire from gunmen as they moved to extract the hostages. The military responded with heavy force, including air support, to ensure the safe evacuation of the rescuers and hostages.
Critics of the operation were dismissed by Israel’s Foreign Minister, who noted that complaints about casualties from Hamas terrorists and their allies only came from Israel’s enemies. Cease-fire efforts have been ongoing since the initial attack in October, with approximately 120 hostages still in captivity and over 40 pronounced dead. The latest rescue operation did lift spirits in Israel, despite divisions over the best approach to bring hostages home.
International pressure is mounting on Israel to limit civilian casualties in its war in Gaza, with widespread hunger also affecting Palestinians due to fighting and Israeli restrictions on aid. The impact of the recent rescue operation on cease-fire efforts remains to be seen as further diplomatic efforts are pursued. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to return to the region next week in search of a breakthrough, while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu faces challenges from both far-right allies and anti-government sentiments within Israel.
