Israel rescues two hostages in Rafah as strikes reported
Israel rescued two male hostages in a raid in Rafah amid reports of Israeli airstrikes hit the southern Gazan city of Rafah.
The Israeli military confirms the men are in “good medical condition.” The international community – including the UK – had warned about Israel’s planned offensive in Rafah.
Earlier, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said Rafah was under attack, with a number of deaths reported. 1.5 million people are sheltering in the southern city.
In a later statement on social media, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that during an overnight “joint operation between the IDF, ISA [Israel Security Agency or Shin Bet], and Israel Police, two Israeli hostages from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak were rescued: Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Louis Har (70)”.
The rescued hostages were taken to Sheba Medical Center in central Israel for tests. The IDF posted night-time footage of a helicopter landing at an unspecified location. It is unclear whether the men were aboard.