Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that an Israeli operation to liberate four hostages in central Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 274 Palestinians, including children, and left hundreds injured.
The action, part of the ongoing conflict since Hamas’ attacks on October 7, was described by Israel as a success despite the heavy Palestinian losses and global criticism.
On Saturday, amid intense gunfire and supported by aerial bombardments, Israeli forces engaged with Hamas militants at the Nuseirat refugee camp, resulting in the release of the hostages.
The hostages, Noa Argamani, 26; Almog Meir Jan, 22; Andrei Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 41, who were captured during the Nova music festival on October 7, have safely returned to Israel.
Footage from Gaza captured following the raid depicts scenes of devastation.
Witnesses described the chaos during the raid. Mohamed al-Habash shared his harrowing experience, saying, “We saw many fighter jets flying over the area. We saw people fleeing in the streets. Women and children were screaming and crying.”
A man who reported losing over 40 family members since the conflict started told the BBC about being in a house that was struck during an attack.
He said, “As soon as these children and women entered the house, the bombing attack took place, claiming the lives of all those inside it.”
The mission targeted Nuseirat, a densely populated refugee camp, marking one of the largest-scale rescues since the conflict’s inception, which has seen Israel’s military campaign lead to over 36,700 Palestinian deaths.
The latest raid resulted in the deaths of 64 children and 57 women, with nearly 700 others wounded, prompting international concern over the humanitarian impact.
Cindy McCain, World Food Program chief stated, “I don’t know. It’s a good question.”
In Gaza, medical teams at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital struggled to manage the influx of casualties. Karin Huster from Doctors Without Borders described the dire conditions, “Kids completely gray or white from the shock, burnt, screaming for their parents. Many of them are not screaming because they are in shock.”
The Israeli military defended its actions as a necessary response to threats during the raid, which also resulted in the death of an Israeli special forces officer.
Israel Katz, Israel’s Foreign Minister, defended the operation on social media, stating, “Only Israel’s enemies complained about the casualties of Hamas terrorists and their accomplices.”
On the home front, Israel grapples with political divisions over the ongoing hostage situation. While some advocate for a ceasefire, others, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right allies, strongly oppose any halt in military actions, potentially risking the stability of his government.
Internationally, pressure mounts as United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans a return to the Middle East to promote a ceasefire.
