Israel says two hostages rescued from Gaza in special operation, 128 days after their capture

[demmiblue]

Source: CNN

The Israeli military said Monday it has rescued two hostages during a special operation conducted overnight in Rafah, in southern Gaza.

The hostages are 60-year-old Fernando Simon Marman and 70-year-old Louis Har, who were both taken 128 days ago during Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel.

The two are in good medical condition and have been transferred for Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer, said the Israel Defense Forces. The joint operation was done with the Israeli Security Agency and Israel Police, it said.

The news of the release comes as Rafah was being pounded by Israeli attacks. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said Monday that more than 60 people had been killed by recent airstrikes and that the city was experiencing “intense targeting”.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/12/middleeast/israel-hostages-rescued-gaza-rafah-intl-hnk/index.html

[Stuart G]

1. Thank You for Posting This Article About the Hostage Rescue

[madaboutharry]

2. Am Yisrael Chai

[JohnSJ]

3. Fuck Hamas

[SunSeeker]

4. Their families must be ecstatic.

I'm amazed they are in "good condition" after 128 days.

[Richard D]

5. Good medical condition

I imagine that their mental/emotional health may be rightly challenged.
Really, fuck hamas.

[SunSeeker]

6. Yes, fuck Hamas.

So many lives destroyed because of them.

[SunSeeker]

7. And yes, those hostages will no doubt have PTSD from this. nt

[EX500rider]

8. More details:

The first indications that something was taking place in Rafah were a series of intense Israeli strikes, which were reported shortly before 02:00 local time (00:00 GMT) on Monday and caused panic in a city that is sheltering the majority of the estimated 1.7 million Palestinians displaced by the war.

At 00:50, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that they had conducted strikes on "terror targets" in the Shaboura area of Rafah.
One hour and 40 minutes later, the IDF put out a brief statement announcing the rescue of Louis Har and Fernando Marman in a joint operation with the Israel Police's Yamam special forces unit and the Shin Bet security service.

In the morning, IDF spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari provided more details about what he described as a "complex rescue operation under fire", for which Israeli commandos had been preparing "for some time".
"In the early morning, at 01:49, the special forces breached into a building in the heart of Rafah," he told a news briefing. "On the second floor, Louis and Fernando were held by armed Hamas terrorists, who were present in the building along with terrorists who were in the adjacent buildings."

"From the moment of the breach and entry into the apartment, Yamam forces shielded Louis and Fernando with their bodies, initiating a daring battle and heavy exchanges of fire at several locations simultaneously, with many terrorists."
Adm Hagari added: "By 01:50, aerial fire was activated by the Israeli Air Force and Southern Command, to enable the force's disengagement and to strike Hamas terrorists in the area.
"At this stage, the forces extracted Louis and Fernando from the apartment and evacuated them under fire, accompanied by IDF forces who provided them protection in the Rafah area until they reached a safe zone."

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68276452