HEADLINES
- Israel Rescues Four Hostages from Gaza Amid Intense Combat
- Gaza Health Ministry Condemns Operation as "Nuseirat Massacre"
- Netanyahu Faces Criticism Over Handling of Hostage Crisis

The time is now 07:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In recent developments, Israel has celebrated the successful rescue of four hostages from Gaza, while the region continues to endure the harrowing consequences of the ongoing conflict.

On Sunday, Israelis cheered the news of the safe return of Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv, who were among those abducted during Hamas's attack on October 7. The rescue operation, conducted by Israeli special forces, took place in the densely populated Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza. During the extraction, heavy gunfire ensued between the special forces and Palestinian militants, resulting in the deaths of 274 Palestinians and injuries to hundreds more. The Israeli military reported that the extraction team and captives faced intense gun and grenade fire, which led to the death of one police officer. Additionally, airstrikes were carried out by the Israeli Air Force, causing significant destruction to nearby buildings.

The health ministry in Gaza, governed by Hamas, labeled the event the "Nuseirat massacre," citing that many of the casualties included women and children, although these figures have not been independently verified. The ministry reported 698 people wounded in the operation. Hadeel Radwan, a Gaza resident, described the terror experienced by civilians during the intense combat, highlighting the broader human impact of the conflict.

Footage released by the Israeli army showed the emotional reunions of the freed hostages with their families, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visiting the rescued individuals in the hospital. The rescue has been hailed across Israeli media, with leading newspapers describing it as a "heroic operation" and a "morale boost" for the nation. However, the rescue has also drawn criticism towards Netanyahu for his perceived selective engagement with the families of hostages, leading to accusations of insensitivity towards those whose loved ones did not survive.

Hamas's military wing, the Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, claimed that other hostages were killed during the operation and warned that further actions could endanger the remaining captives. The Israeli government, while rejecting allegations of war crimes, has reiterated its commitment to securing the release of all hostages and defeating Hamas.

The conflict continues with renewed clashes and airstrikes. An Israeli airstrike recently killed four members of a family in Gaza City's Al-Daraj area, and there have been reports of heavy artillery shelling in northern and central Rafah. The rescue operation on Saturday brings the total number of hostages rescued alive to seven since October 7, with 116 still held in Gaza. The Israeli military has confirmed the deaths of 41 hostages based on new intelligence.

International reactions have been mixed. While leaders such as US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have praised the rescue, they have also called for a truce. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, described reports of civilian casualties as appalling and urged an immediate end to the violence. In contrast, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who is scheduled to visit the Middle East, emphasized that Hamas's acceptance of a ceasefire deal is essential for peace.

The conflict, which erupted following the October 7 attack on southern Israel, has resulted in significant loss of life and widespread devastation in Gaza. The United Nations reports over 37,000 deaths in Gaza, mostly civilians, with significant displacement and a...

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09 Jun 2024