A Dramatic Turn of Events: The Israeli Military Raid in Rafah and the Rescue of Two Hostages

The Israeli military’s raid in Rafah, a city on the southern edge of the Gaza Strip, marked a significant moment in the ongoing quest to bring home over 100 captives believed to be held by the Hamas militant group. The operation, which took place under heavy fire early on the morning of February 12, 2024, resulted in the rescue of two hostages and the death of at least 50 Palestinians.

The hostages, identified as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, had been held in a second-floor apartment in Rafah, under guard from Hamas gunmen both in the apartment and nearby buildings. The Israeli military’s special forces managed to break into the apartment under fire at 1:49 a.m., accompanied by a series of airstrikes on surrounding areas. The hostages were shielded by the rescue team as a heavy battle ensued, with many Hamas gunmen present.

The hostages were taken to a nearby “safe area” and given a quick medical check before being flown to a hospital in central Israel. In a post on his Twitter account, Argentine President Mauricio Macri thanked Israel for the rescue of his countrymen.

The Israeli strikes, however, resulted in the death of at least 50 Palestinians, including women and children. Dr. Marwan al-Hams, director of the Abu Youssef al-Najjar hospital, reported that dozens were also wounded. The Israeli military identified the rescued hostages as Marman and Har, who had been kidnapped by Hamas militants from Kibbutz Nir Yizhak in the October 7 cross-border attack that triggered the war. Both were airlifted to Sheba Hospital and were reported to be in good medical condition.

The operation was based on precise intelligence and had been planned for some time, but the rescue team had been waiting for the right moment to act. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined the military chief and other top officials as the raid unfolded.

The Israeli military has described Rafah as the last remaining Hamas stronghold in Gaza and has signaled that its ground offensive may soon target the densely populated city. On Sunday, the White House stated that President Biden had warned Netanyahu that Israel should not conduct a military operation against Hamas in Rafah without a “credible and executable” plan to protect civilians.

The remaining hostages are believed to be spread out and hidden in tunnels, likely in poor conditions. The rescue is a morale booster for Israelis, but it’s a small step toward winning the release of all of them.

Har’s son-in-law, Idan Bergerano, was able to see the released captives at the hospital. He reported that they were thin and pale but communicating well and aware of their surroundings. Har told him immediately upon seeing him, “You have a birthday today, mazal tov.”

Israel has made the return of all hostages one of the main goals of the war. Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead with Israel’s military offensive until a “total victory” that also includes destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities.

The strikes hit around Rafah’s Kuwait Hospital early Monday morning, and some of those wounded in the strikes had been brought to the hospital. The Israeli military earlier stated that it struck “terror targets in the area of Shaboura,” a district in Rafah.

Netanyahu has stated that sending ground troops into Rafah is essential to meeting Israel’s war goals. President Biden has urged Israel to exercise extreme caution before moving in.

An estimated 1.4 million Palestinians – more than half of Gaza’s population – are now crammed into Rafah, increasing its population five-fold. Hundreds of thousands of people are now living in sprawling tent camps and overcrowded U.N. shelters.

Mr. Biden’s remarks, made in a phone call with Netanyahu late Sunday, were his most forceful language yet on the possible operation. Mr. Biden also sought “urgent and specific” steps to strengthen humanitarian aid. Israel’s Channel 13 TV reported that the conversation lasted 45 minutes.

Discussion of the potential for a cease-fire agreement took up much of the call, and a “framework” is now “pretty much” in place for a deal that could see the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a halt to fighting.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations, acknowledged that “gaps remain” but declined to give details. The official stated that military pressure on Hamas in the southern city of Khan Younis in recent weeks helped bring the group closer to accepting a deal.

Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on the call.

Hamas’ Al-Aqsa television station earlier quoted an unnamed Hamas official as stating that any invasion of Rafah would “blow up” the talks mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar.

Mr. Biden and Netanyahu spoke after two Egyptian officials and a Western diplomat stated that Egypt threatened to suspend its peace treaty with Israel if troops are sent into Rafah. The Camp David peace accords have been a cornerstone of regional stability for over 40 years. Egypt fears a mass influx of Palestinian refugees who may never be allowed to return.

Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other countries have also warned of severe repercussions if Israel goes into Rafah. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote on Twitter that an Israeli offensive on Rafah would lead to an unspeakable humanitarian catastrophe and grave tensions with Egypt. Human Rights Watch stated that forced displacement is a war crime.

Inside Rafah, some displaced people packed up again. Rafat and Fedaa Abu Haloub, who fled Beit Lahia in the north earlier in the war, placed their belongings onto a truck. “We don’t know where we can safely take him,” Fedaa said of their baby. “Every month we have to move.”

Om Mohammad Al-Ghemry, displaced from Nuseirat, stated that she hoped Egypt would not allow Israel to force Palestinians to flee into the Sinai because they do not want to leave.

Heavy fighting continues in central Gaza and Khan Younis. Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry stated that the bodies of 112 people killed across the territory had been brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours. The death toll is 28,176 since the start of the war. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and fighters but states that most of those killed were women and children.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues to claim lives and cause destruction. The rescue of the two hostages in Rafah is a small victory for Israel, but the larger goal of securing the release of all hostages and bringing peace to the region remains elusive. The international community must continue to work towards a peaceful resolution and protect the human rights of all those affected by the conflict.

In conclusion, the Israeli military raid in Rafah, Gaza Strip, resulted in the rescue of two hostages and the death of at least 50 Palestinians. The operation was a significant moment in the ongoing quest to bring home over 100 captives believed to be held by the Hamas militant group. The rescue is a morale booster for Israelis, but it’s a small step toward winning the release of all of them. The international community must continue to work towards a peaceful resolution and protect the human rights of all those affected by the conflict. The ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas continues to claim lives and cause destruction, and a peaceful resolution remains elusive.