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RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli army stated it rescued two hostages from captivity within the Gaza Strip early Monday, marking a small however symbolically vital success in its quest to carry house over 100 captives believed to be held by the Hamas militant group.
The 2 males have been rescued from a residential constructing within the southern border city of Rafah in a raid that additionally killed at the very least seven individuals, in response to Palestinian officers. Witnesses reported at the very least 17 airstrikes, flares and Apache helicopter hearth.
The military recognized the 2 rescued hostages as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, and stated each have been in good medical situation. It stated each males have been kidnapped by Hamas militants from Kibbutz Nir Yizhak within the Oct. 7 cross-border assault that began the Israel-Hamas struggle, now in its fifth month. They’re simply the second and third hostages to be rescued safely.
Lt. Col. Richard Hecht stated the operation was based mostly on “exact intelligence,” and that the positioning, positioned on the second ground of a constructing, had been watched for “a while.” He stated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined Israel’s army chief and different high officers because the raid unfolded.
Hamas militants killed an estimated 1,200 individuals and kidnapped 250 others within the Oct. 7 raid that triggered the struggle. An Israeli air and floor offensive has killed over 28,000 Palestinians, in response to native well being officers.
Over 100 hostages have been freed throughout a weeklong cease-fire in November. Israel says about 100 hostages stay in Hamas captivity, whereas Hamas is holding the stays of roughly 30 others who have been both killed on Oct. 7 or died in captivity.
Israel has made the rescue of all hostages one of many most important objectives of the struggle.
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