TEL AVIV. Israel has announced the successful rescue of two Israeli-Argentinian hostages in a raid in Rafah, amidst heavy Israeli airstrikes targeting the southern Gazan city. The Israeli military confirmed that the two men, Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, were found in “good medical condition”.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), stated that the hostages were discovered on the second floor of a building in Rafah, following “heavy exchanges of fire at several locations simultaneously, with many terrorists.”
Residents in Rafah described the night of the raid as chaotic, with reports of heavy shooting and strong explosions. Abou Suhhaib, a resident in the Shaboura neighborhood, recounted hearing sounds of “strong explosions, as if hell had opened on the civilians,” and witnessing a helicopter landing amidst heavy gunfire.
Conflicting reports emerged regarding Palestinian casualties from the airstrikes, with AFP news agency citing Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reporting “around 100 people” killed, while the Associated Press quoted local hospital officials stating at least 50 people were killed.
The rescued hostages were taken to Sheba Medical Center in central Israel for examination. Armon Aek, the acting director of the medical center, confirmed their stable condition and stated that initial examinations were conducted by the emergency room staff.
The hostages had been kidnapped by Hamas during the cross-border attack on October 7th, which triggered the ground invasion. The rescue operation comes after months of escalating violence between Israel and Hamas, resulting in numerous casualties on both sides.
Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip have drawn international concern, with several countries and international organizations warning against the planned offensive in Rafah, where an estimated 1.5 million people have sought refuge. UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron highlighted the dire situation, stating that “over half of Gaza’s population are sheltering in the area.”
US President Joe Biden reiterated the importance of protecting civilians in Rafah during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, emphasizing the need for a “credible and executable plan” to ensure their safety.
Despite international warnings, Prime Minister Netanyahu has insisted on proceeding with the offensive, citing the need to ensure Israel’s security. Hamas, however, has warned of “tens of thousands” of potential casualties and emphasized that any operation would jeopardize ongoing talks regarding the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Photo: IDF Spokesman
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
