The liberation of Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Andrey Kozlov and Almog Meir Jan, the four Israeli hostages in the hands of Hamas since 7 October 2023, has been described as a “heroic operation”. A blitz, that of the IDF, planned for a few weeks and which caused the death of 210 Palestinians in the heart of Nuseirat, but which according to the Israeli forces was necessary for the defense of the country.
Gaza, 4 hostages freed by Israeli special forces: Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir Jan and Andrey Kozlov. The girl on the phone with Netanyhau: «It’s been a while since I spoke Hebrew»
The blitz by the IDF, Shin Bet and special forces
Israel’s blitz in Nuseirat began this morning, Saturday 8 June. After raiding and demolishing a Hamas training compound in Tel Sultan, in the western part of Rafah, the soldiers allegedly “killed numerous terrorists, located tunnels and seized weapons”. This operation was announced by the Israeli military spokesman, who today described the army’s intervention in Nuseirat, in the center of the Strip, “against a terrorist structure” of Hamas. Right there, IDF special forces found four Israeli hostages alive, kidnapped by Hamas at the Nova music festival. «The hostages – Shin Bet and IDF said in a joint note – were rescued by the Shin Bet and army fighters from two different places during the operation in the heart of Nuseirat. Their medical conditions are normal and they have been transferred to Sheba-Tel Hashomer Medical Center for further medical tests. Security forces continue to use all efforts to rescue the abductees.” A “heroic operation”, a “miraculous triumph”, according to the Hostages’ Families Forum, which praised the army’s raid. «The heroic IDF operation that freed and brought home Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Andrey Kozlov and Almog Meir Jan is a miraculous triumph. Now, with joy overwhelming Israel, the government must remember its commitment to bring back all 120 hostages still held by Hamas: the living for rehabilitation, the killed for burial. We continue to call on the international community to exert the necessary pressure on Hamas to accept the proposed agreement and release the remaining 120 hostages held captive. Every day is one day too many.” Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also shares the same opinion. «Our troops conducted a heroic operation to rescue 4 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and brought them home. The IDF, Shin Bet and special forces operated with extraordinary courage under heavy fire and were successful in completing their mission, he added. Israel’s defense will continue to fight until the 120 hostages return home.”
A move that has been planned for weeks
Israel had been working on today’s attack for weeks, as also confirmed by Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari: «A complex operation, planned for several weeks, which took place under heavy enemy fire. The special unit fighters – he added – operated in two different buildings and we resorted to massive fire, including from other fighters, including the Navy, to protect our forces. The hostages – he continued – were inside a civilian neighborhood, in an environment guarded by armed militiamen. Very complex intelligence information collected over weeks was used. It was a very big puzzle.” When asked by a journalist whether the outcome of the operation could have an effect on the ongoing negotiations, Hagari replied: “The message for Hamas is that the IDF is determined to recover the hostages.” Hagari, in response to another question about whether the head of the Qassam Brigade Mohammed Deif had been killed in the attack, replied: “If that were the case I would have told you.” According to initial reconstructions, the United States also collaborated for the success of the operation.
Israel’s losses
Only one soldier lost his life in the hostage rescue operation. The Israeli police have in fact announced the death of Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, commander of the Special Anti-Terrorism Unit, killed in the operation in Nuseirat inside the Gaza Strip for the release of the four hostages. Zamora – as military spokesman Daniel Hagari had said – was seriously injured in the operation. Taken to hospital, he was pronounced dead.
210 Palestinians killed
Instead, 210 Palestinians died in the blitz. According to Hamas’ latest statements, the military operation that led to the release of the Israeli hostages hit the area of the Nuseirat refugee camp hard, also causing 400 injuries. At the moment, however, the Deir al Balah hospital, in the center of the Strip, reports 94 people killed.
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