Gaza health ministry says Israeli hostage rescue killed 274 Palestinians
The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that an Israeli raid on the Nuseirat refugee camp, which saw four hostages rescued, killed 274 people, including children and other civilians. The raid, conducted on Saturday, involved intense gun battles and airstrikes. The Israeli military, however, estimated fewer than 100 casualties from the operation.
The hostages—Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrei Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41—were abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7 and have been returned to Israel, sparking celebrations and international commendation, including from US President Joe Biden.
Despite the successful rescue, there has been significant international criticism regarding the high civilian death toll. European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell condemned the operation, calling reports of civilian casualties “appalling.” In response, an Israeli minister criticised the EU for condemning Israel rather than Hamas.
Scenes from the Nuseirat refugee camp depict extensive devastation and mourning. Two Gaza hospitals, al-Aqsa and al-Awda, reported 70 bodies between them, while the health ministry released names of 86 individuals among the reported 274 fatalities. Israel’s military described the mission as high-risk and based on precise intelligence, acknowledging one special forces officer was wounded and later died. Videos from Gaza hospitals show the severe aftermath, with numerous injured and deceased individuals overwhelming medical facilities.