Israel frees two Argentinian hostages in a military operation in southern Gaza

The United States, Israel’s main ally, stressed that it would not support a “large-scale” Israeli military operation in Rafah without a plan to protect civilians.

“Without a plan that is credible and that (the Israelis) can execute, we do not support a large-scale military operation,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a news conference.

More than 1.4 million Palestinians who fled the fighting are currently concentrated in the city, according to the United Nations.

The city was the site of a major operation involving the army, Shin Bet security agency and Israeli police, which allowed the rescue of “two Israeli hostages, Fernando Marmon (60 years old) and Lewis Har (70)”. A statement from them. Three services.

The Argentine President confirmed the identities of those released and the office of President Javier Meili, who was in Israel a few days ago and is in Rome this Monday, thanked the Israeli security forces on the X Network.

The two men abducted from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak were transferred to Ramat Gan’s Sheba Medical Center and “are in stable condition,” said Arnon Afek, director of the facility.

Israeli forces “blasted with explosives” the second floor of the building where the prisoners were being held, “fired on nearby targets and freed the hostages,” the army and government said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said, “Fire then broke out from this building and neighboring buildings, followed by a prolonged battle, during which dozens of Hamas positions were bombed to allow the troops to leave.”

For its part, the health ministry of the Hamas-ruled region said “about 100 people were killed” in the operation, including children.

“point of transition”

Netanyahu said the operation was “one of the most successful in the entire history” of Israel.

Its Defense Minister, Yoav Galant, said the operation was “a turning point” in the campaign launched against Hamas on October 7 for attacks on Israeli territory.

On October 7, about 250 people were abducted in Israel and taken to Gaza. A week-long ceasefire in late November allowed Israel to release about a hundred of them in exchange for about 240 Palestinians detained there.

Before these last two releases, Israeli officials had estimated that 132 hostages were still in the Palestinian territory, and that 29 of them had died.

The Hostage Families Forum said, “Time is of the essence for the hostages. Their lives are in danger with every passing moment. The government must explore all options to free them.”

“Today we are happy, but we have not won yet. This is another step towards the return home of the hostages still held in Gaza,” Idan Bejerano, Louis Har’s son-in-law, said in front of the hospital. ,

Netanyahu wants to defeat Hamas in its “last bastion” in Rafah and said he would “guarantee safe passage for the civilian population so they can leave”, without specifying where they could take refuge.

“Only continued military pressure until total victory will lead to the release of all our hostages,” he insisted on Monday, days after ordering his forces to prepare for an offensive against that city.

Hamas warned that such an offensive would “torpedo” any agreement to release hostages in Gaza.

The war broke out with a Hamas attack on Israeli territory on October 7, killing about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP report based on Israeli data.

In retaliation, Israel vowed to “destroy” Hamas, which it considers a terrorist organization. According to the Islamist group, the Israeli strikes have so far killed more than 28,300 people, especially women and minors.

“Where are they going to evacuate them?”

For his part, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, said he was “deeply concerned by the information regarding the bombardment and possible ground attack by Israeli forces in Rafah.”

He is not the only one to express concern about a potential incursion into the city, which has become the last refuge for Palestinians fleeing the fighting.

“The Israeli attack on Rafah cannot be allowed,” Jordan’s King Abdullah II said after a meeting at the White House with US President Joe Biden, in which he defended the need for “a permanent ceasefire now”.

For his part, Biden once again demanded a plan from Israel to “protect civilians” and was in favor of a pause in fighting for “at least six weeks.”

EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell called for a halt to sending arms to Israel due to the possibility of an offensive in Rafah.

Rafah, the last urban center that Israeli forces have not entered, is the main entry point for aid into the besieged area.

Ceasefire talks have yet to yield any results, but a source close to the talks told AFP a new meeting is planned in Cairo on Tuesday.

© 2024 AFP