what we know about the operation to free four hostages held in the Gaza Strip

The Israeli army announced on Saturday that it had rescued four people who were being held by Hamas in the Nusseirat refugee camp. During this operation, at least 274 Palestinians died, says the Gazan government.

An operation “complex”. The Israeli army announced the release, during a military operation in Nusseirat, in the center of the Gaza Strip, of four hostages held by Hamas. They are Noa Argamani (27 years old), Almog Meir Jan (22 years old), Andrey Kozlov (27 years old) and Shlomi Ziv (41 years old). All four were kidnapped from the site of the Nova electro music festival on October 7. Franceinfo summarizes what we know about this intervention.

Two simultaneous operations

Saturday morning, when “Four Israeli hostages were freed from a difficult daytime special operation in Nousseirat” from the refugee camp where they were detained, said the Israeli army in a statement released on Saturday. The ex-hostages “are in good health and have been transferred to the Sheba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer [dans la ville de Ramat Gan] to carry out additional medical examinations.”

The hostages were held in two different buildings, three or four stories high, “in the heart of a neighborhood of civilians with armed terrorists”specified Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israeli army. Israeli forces therefore launched two operations simultaneously, after several weeks of preparation, he assured.

They were carried out around 11 a.m., jointly by the army, internal intelligence and a special anti-terrorist unit, with ground troops and air support. Witnesses to the Israeli intervention reported shooting from drones and helicopters against the camp, reports AFP.

At the same time, witnesses reported gunfire from helicopters east of the Al-Bureij camp and artillery fire in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Shooting was also reported in Rafah, in the south, according to AFP.

Israeli police officer killed in operation

A police officer died in the operations, according to Israeli authorities. Aged 36, Arnon Zamora headed the Israeli police’s special anti-terrorism unit (Yamam). He was “Severly injured” during the rescue of the hostages in one of the two apartments where they were held, and succumbed to his injuries in hospital, detailed the Israeli army in a press release. He was married and had two children. In his memory, the operation carried out on Saturday morning was renamed “Operation Arnon”, specifies the army.

Hamas denounces the deaths of other hostages and at least 274 civilians

“By committing horrible massacres, the enemy was able to free some of its prisoners, but at the same time, it killed some during the operation”, assured Abou Obeida, spokesperson for the armed wing of Hamas, on Telegram. He also promised that the Israeli operation would have a “negative impact” on the living conditions of the other hostages. This information was not immediately independently verifiable.

The press service of the Gaza government led by Hamas also assured Saturday that at least 274 people had been killed and more than 400 injured in Israeli attacks in Nusseirat, without mentioning the release of hostages. A spokesperson for Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, Doctor Khalil al-Dakran, for his part announced to the Associated Press the deaths in the establishment of 109 people, including 23 children and 11 women. More than 100 injured people were also hospitalized at Al-Aqsa hospital, he said. The spokesperson for the Israeli army, quoted by the New York Timesestimates for his part that the number of deaths should be “less than 100”. None of these assessments can be independently confirmed.

Saying “relieved” of the release of the hostages, the UN special rapporteur in the Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, deplored on “at the cost of at least 200 Palestinians, including children, killed and more than 400 injured”. US Vice President Kamala Harris said on Saturday “mourn for all the innocent lives that have been lost in Gaza, including those who were tragically killed today”reports the Israeli daily Haaretz. This is the first public acknowledgment by an American leader of the Palestinians killed during this Israeli operation.

The United States helped Israel carry out the operation

Washington provided intelligence and logistical assistance to Israel in connection with the release of the four hostages, several American and Israeli officials assured the New York Times.

The American army has nevertheless refuted that its temporary artificial pier, whether “its equipment, personnel and facilities”was used in operations, after press reports reporting American support. “An area south of this facility was used by the Israelis to secure the return of hostages to Israel. Any other claim is false.”saide United States Military Command for the Middle East (Centcom), in a press release.

CENTCOM Statement Regarding IDF Rescue Operations Today

The humanitarian pier facility, including its equipment, personnel, and assets were not used in the operation to rescue hostages today in Gaza. An area south of the facility was used by the Israelis to safely return the… pic.twitter.com/Eg7BNE8Phf

— US Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 8, 2024

“There were no American soldiers, nor any American participation on the ground in this operation”also denied a spokesperson for the Israeli army, Avichay Adraee, to the Arab channel Mashhad TV.