In an overnight operation in Gaza’s southern Rafah neighbourhood, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) rescued two hostages seized by Hamas on 7 October.
According to the health ministry of the Hamas-ruled territory, 52 people were killed in a series of Israeli air attacks on Rafah in southern Gaza on Monday. The strikes targeted 14 residences and three mosques throughout Rafah, the Hamas government said.
IDF’s Special Operation in Rafah
According to the Israeli military, a joint operation including the IDF, Israel’s internal Shin Bet security service, and the Special Police Unit in Rafah rescued two men, Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Louis Har (70), from a residence. They were kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on 7 October. “They are both in good medical condition, and were transferred for medical examination at the Sheba Tel Hashomer hospital,” the military said in a statement.
In a press briefing, the IDF spokesperson claimed that the troops were able to covertly enter the building and proceed to the second level, blow up the apartment door with an explosive, and kill the three militants who were holding the two hostages. “It was a very complex operation,” Reuters reported, citing Israeli military spokesperson Lt Col. Richard Hecht. “We’ve been working a long time on this operation. We were waiting for the right conditions,” he added.
A senior IDF official told Axios that the operation had been planned for several weeks based on intelligence. The Israeli Air Force carried out major attacks in Rafah as a diversion to assist the extraction of the two hostages, the official said.
Two Israeli hostages rescued during an overnight mission in Rafah.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 12, 2024
During a joint operation between the IDF, ISA, and Israel Police, two Israeli hostages from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak were rescued: Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Louis Har (70).
They are both in good medical…
According to a source with direct knowledge, Israel told US President Joe Biden’s administration that the operation had been successfully completed. Earlier, Biden administration officials warned that the US would not approve such a military operation in Rafah unless Israel provided a detailed strategy for safely evacuating Palestinians sheltering there.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Hamas said the strike on Rafah was a continuation of Israel’s “genocidal war” and forced displacement attempts against the Palestinians.
Biden-Netanyahu Phone Conversation
Biden on Sunday held a phone conversation with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu wherein they discussed ongoing attempts to secure the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas.
The President emphasised the shared goal of defeating Hamas and ensuring Israel’s long-term security, a White House statement read. He also called for immediate steps to increase the flow and regularity of humanitarian aid to Palestinian people.
Furthermore, the American leader reiterated his view that military action in Rafah should not be carried out unless there is a credible and executable plan in place to ensure the protection and support of the over one million civilians sheltering there.
Biden tells Netanyahu: Don’t press into Rafah without ‘credible’ plan for civilians https://t.co/4odGsm7UgJ
— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) February 11, 2024
Ongoing Negotiations on Hostage Deals
Israel informed Egyptian and Qatari mediators last week that, while it rejects the majority of Hamas’ requests in its response to the most recent hostage deal proposal, it is prepared to begin negotiations based on the original proposal it made two weeks ago, sources said.
The proposed framework for negotiations on a three-phase agreement was presented after Qatari PM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani met with CIA director Bill Burns and Israel and Egypt’s spy chiefs two weeks ago.
Under the proposal, the first phase would entail a six-week cease-fire and the release of a specified number of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Hamas releasing 35-40 Israeli hostages, including women, men over the age of 60, and those with serious medical issues, the officials said.
Hamas’ response to the proposal included various requests, including Israel’s release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners and the end of the Gaza war, as well as several other non-Gaza-related demands, such as negotiating the status quo at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque.
However, Netanyahu has warned that “capitulating to Hamas’ delusional demands will not lead to the release of the hostages but only invite another massacre and another catastrophe for Israel.”