In a daring operation early Monday, Israeli special forces successfully freed two Israeli hostages in Rafah, Southern Gaza. The mission took place amidst a series of air strikes, which local health officials reported resulted in the deaths of 37 people and numerous injuries in the area.
According to reports, an airstrike was conducted to facilitate the extraction of the special forces. The strikes caused widespread panic among Rafah residents, many of whom were asleep when the attacks began. Some feared that Israel had initiated a ground offensive into the area.
Israeli military assets including planes, tanks, and ships participated in the strikes, resulting in damage to two mosques and several houses, as reported by residents.
The Israeli military confirmed that a “series of strikes” were conducted in southern Gaza, which have now concluded, but did not provide further details on the operation.
Prior to the assault, US President Joe Biden communicated to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the importance of not launching a military operation in Rafah without a credible plan to ensure the safety of the approximately one million civilians seeking shelter in the area.
Aid agencies have warned that an assault on Rafah would have catastrophic consequences, as it is considered the last relatively safe place in Gaza amidst widespread devastation caused by previous military offensives.
The conversation between Biden and Netanyahu follows the US President’s recent remarks criticizing Israel’s military response in Gaza as “over the top” and expressing grave concern over the civilian death toll in the enclave.
Netanyahu’s office has indicated that the military has been instructed to develop a plan to evacuate Rafah and target four Hamas battalions believed to be deployed in the area.
The escalating tensions come in the wake of Hamas militants’ actions, including the killing of 1,200 people in southern Israel and the abduction of at least 250 individuals during an incursion on October 7th. In response, Israel launched a military assault on the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of over 28,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Netanyahu defended Israel’s actions, stating in a recent interview that there were still enough remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza to justify the ongoing conflict in the region.
Hamas, through its Aqsa Television, warned of dire consequences if Israel were to launch a ground offensive in Rafah, suggesting it could disrupt ongoing negotiations for a hostage exchange.
Egypt, which shares a border with Rafah, has issued a stern warning against a potential Israeli military assault, emphasizing the need for international and regional efforts to prevent the targeting of the Palestinian city.
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