Israeli military says it has rescued 2 hostages from captivity in the Gaza Strip

The Israeli military claimed it liberated two hostages from captivity in the Gaza Strip early Monday, marking a tiny but symbolic victory in its efforts to bring home over 100 detainees believed to be held by the Hamas terrorist organisation.

According to Palestinian sources, the operation that resulted in the rescue of the two men from a residential structure in the southern border town of Rafah also claimed the lives of at least seven other individuals. At least 17 airstrikes, flares, and Apache helicopter fire were recorded by witnesses.

The two freed captives were named by the army as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, and they were both believed to be in good health. The report said that on October 7, during the cross-border raid that sparked the ongoing, fifth-month Israel-Hamas war, both men were abducted by Hamas terrorists from Kibbutz Nir Yizhak. These are just the third and second captives to be securely freed.

The operation, according to Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, was predicated on “precise intelligence,” and the location—which is on a building’s second floor—had been observed for “some time.” He added that as the operation took place, Israel’s military leader and other senior officials were accompanied by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In the Oct. 7 attack that started the war, an estimated 1,200 people were killed and 250 others were abducted by Hamas militants. Over 28,000 Palestinians have lost their lives as a result of an Israeli air and ground onslaught, according to local health experts.

Over 100 hostages were freed during a weeklong cease-fire in November. Israel says about 100 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, while Hamas is holding the remains of roughly 30 others who were either killed on Oct. 7 or died in captivity.

Israel has made the rescue of all hostages one of the main goals of the war.