Israel Rescues Four Hostages from Gaza, Amidst Ongoing Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis
Israel announced the rescue of four hostages from a Gaza refugee camp on Saturday, who were kidnapped during Hamas's October 2020 attack on the Nova music festival.
The operation resulted in the death of 210 Palestinians and injuries to hundreds, according to Hamas-run media.
Meanwhile, aid began flowing into Gaza via a rebuilt temporary pier, which was damaged during a storm in May. The US Central Command repaired the pier and delivered over 490 tonnes of humanitarian aid on Saturday.
The pier and the hostage rescue operation were separate incidents.
The Israeli military successfully rescued four hostages, Noa Argamani (26), Almog Meir Jan (22), Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (41), in a "complex" mission.
Footage and images were released showing them being extracted by helicopter and reuniting with loved ones at a Tel Aviv hospital.
In Nuseirat, where the hostages were being held, Palestinians reported intense bombardment and heavy gunfire.
Seven hostages have been freed alive since Palestinian militants seized 251 people in October.
There are now 116 hostages remaining in Gaza, including 41 reportedly dead.
The news of the freed captives was met with celebrations in Israel, but anxieties over the remaining hostages prompted thousands to gather in Tel Aviv demanding an end to the eight-month-old war.
On Saturday, in Nuseirat, Palestinians ran for cover as Israeli military conducted an operation.
The Hamas media office reported 210 deaths and over 400 injuries, while Israeli police reported an officer's death.
Witnesses described gunbattles and shelling, with smoldering rubble and concrete remaining.
The operation followed a UNRWA school strike that reportedly killed 37 people, which Israel claimed targeted "terrorists." Michael Levy, whose brother is still detained, expressed concern about releasing all detainees in a military operation.
The UN refugee agency, UNRWA, criticized Israel for striking a facility in Gaza that housed 6,000 displaced people.
Israel alleges that Hamas and its allies use civilian infrastructure, including UN-run facilities, as operational bases.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in widespread destruction, with one in 20 people killed or injured, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry.
Over 2.4 million Gazans are displaced.
Aid groups and the UN accuse Israel of obstructing or delaying the delivery of essential supplies like food, water, medicines, and fuel into Gaza.
Israel attributes the shortages to the inefficiency of aid agencies in distributing supplies.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reported that 135 UNRWA personnel have been killed in the conflict, making it the deadliest conflict for UN personnel in history.
US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron called for an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine following the release of four Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
The international community, including several European countries, has been criticizing Israel for alleged war crimes and growing diplomatic isolation.
Thousands protested for a ceasefire in London and outside the White House.
The conflict, triggered by a Hamas attack, has resulted in the deaths of over 1,100 people, mostly civilians.
Biden reiterated his commitment to bringing all hostages home and reaching a ceasefire.
The text reports that at least 36,801 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza during Israel's military offensive, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
Ceasefire negotiations have stalled, with Hamas demanding a permanent truce and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, which Israel has rejected.
US President Joe Biden proposed a multi-phase truce and hostage release, but this has not been successful.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure from within his government to end the war, with war cabinet minister Benny Gantz threatening to resign.
Gantz canceled a resignation announcement news conference on Saturday.
Gantz urged his colleagues to consider how to move forward in the conflict.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal put forward by President Biden on May 13.
According to Blinken, the only obstacle to achieving a truce is Hamas' refusal to accept the deal.
Blinken will travel to Israel and several regional countries, including Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar, starting from Monday.
Meanwhile, aid began flowing into Gaza via a rebuilt temporary pier, which was damaged during a storm in May. The US Central Command repaired the pier and delivered over 490 tonnes of humanitarian aid on Saturday.
The pier and the hostage rescue operation were separate incidents.
The Israeli military successfully rescued four hostages, Noa Argamani (26), Almog Meir Jan (22), Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (41), in a "complex" mission.
Footage and images were released showing them being extracted by helicopter and reuniting with loved ones at a Tel Aviv hospital.
In Nuseirat, where the hostages were being held, Palestinians reported intense bombardment and heavy gunfire.
Seven hostages have been freed alive since Palestinian militants seized 251 people in October.
There are now 116 hostages remaining in Gaza, including 41 reportedly dead.
The news of the freed captives was met with celebrations in Israel, but anxieties over the remaining hostages prompted thousands to gather in Tel Aviv demanding an end to the eight-month-old war.
On Saturday, in Nuseirat, Palestinians ran for cover as Israeli military conducted an operation.
The Hamas media office reported 210 deaths and over 400 injuries, while Israeli police reported an officer's death.
Witnesses described gunbattles and shelling, with smoldering rubble and concrete remaining.
The operation followed a UNRWA school strike that reportedly killed 37 people, which Israel claimed targeted "terrorists." Michael Levy, whose brother is still detained, expressed concern about releasing all detainees in a military operation.
The UN refugee agency, UNRWA, criticized Israel for striking a facility in Gaza that housed 6,000 displaced people.
Israel alleges that Hamas and its allies use civilian infrastructure, including UN-run facilities, as operational bases.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in widespread destruction, with one in 20 people killed or injured, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry.
Over 2.4 million Gazans are displaced.
Aid groups and the UN accuse Israel of obstructing or delaying the delivery of essential supplies like food, water, medicines, and fuel into Gaza.
Israel attributes the shortages to the inefficiency of aid agencies in distributing supplies.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reported that 135 UNRWA personnel have been killed in the conflict, making it the deadliest conflict for UN personnel in history.
US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron called for an end to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine following the release of four Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
The international community, including several European countries, has been criticizing Israel for alleged war crimes and growing diplomatic isolation.
Thousands protested for a ceasefire in London and outside the White House.
The conflict, triggered by a Hamas attack, has resulted in the deaths of over 1,100 people, mostly civilians.
Biden reiterated his commitment to bringing all hostages home and reaching a ceasefire.
The text reports that at least 36,801 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza during Israel's military offensive, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.
Ceasefire negotiations have stalled, with Hamas demanding a permanent truce and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, which Israel has rejected.
US President Joe Biden proposed a multi-phase truce and hostage release, but this has not been successful.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure from within his government to end the war, with war cabinet minister Benny Gantz threatening to resign.
Gantz canceled a resignation announcement news conference on Saturday.
Gantz urged his colleagues to consider how to move forward in the conflict.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Hamas to accept a ceasefire proposal put forward by President Biden on May 13.
According to Blinken, the only obstacle to achieving a truce is Hamas' refusal to accept the deal.
Blinken will travel to Israel and several regional countries, including Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar, starting from Monday.
Translation:
Translated by AI
