Conflict in the Middle East Region - Israeli hostages freed from Gaza captivity.
In a daring rescue mission in the heart of Gaza, the Israeli military claims to have liberated four captives who had been held by the Islamist group Hamas for months. This claim was made following two raids staged on Saturday in the Nuseirat refugee camp, as per the military authorities. Over in Israel, the news on the rescue ignited immense jubilation.
But on the darker side, protests flared up across the country that same night. The masses demanded a trade-off with Hamas, which would facilitate the release of the remaining 120 captives. The tragedy struck the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, who mourned the deaths of numerous individuals.
The raid took place during broad daylight in Nuseirat and was meticulously planned for several weeks. Peter Leiner, army spokeswoman, shared details on the complex and potentially hazardous operation by the special forces, emphasizing the significance of the surprise assault. Two residential structures, shielded by Hamas guards, hosted the captives and lay very close to each other.
A report by the "New York Times" suggested that a team of American experts had offered assistance to the Israeli forces for this hostage retrieval mission, providing intel and other logistical support. The newspaper relied on an anonymous informant for this information.
The rescued captives were apparently a 25-year-old woman and three men, aged 21, 27, and 40. They were abducted on October 7th from the Nova Music Festival, according to the narrative. The terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups from Gaza Stream stormed southern Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and more than 250 captives on that day. This incident gave birth to the war in the coastal region.
The Israeli spokeswoman, Hagari, stated that 120 of the over 250 captives still held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas had yet to be liberated. There are fears that most of them may no longer be alive.
Since the commencement of the Gaza War, a shocking 36,000 people have been killed and more than 83,000 have been injured, as per health organizations aligned with Hamas. Presently, these statistics cannot be objectively validated. Israel's military forces face significant international criticism for their actions in the Gaza Strip and the high rate of civilian casualties.
Hamas spokesman Abu Obaida issued a warning on Telegram after the hostage rescue, predicting its effects on the captives still held by rival forces. He insinuated that these outcomes could harm their lives, adding that the newly-freed captives' release might escalate the violence.
The tally of casualties from this rescue operation was marred by conflicting reports. According to a Hamas account, at least 210 Palestinians lost their lives. In Nuseirat alone, around 400 residents sustained injuries. These figures initially lacked independent verification. Hamas-affiliated health authorities, alongside medical circles in the Gaza Strip, cited 55 fatalities. Israeli army spokeswoman Hagari dismissed this and opined that just under 100 had perished, yet couldn't confirm if they were all militants.
Hamas military wing's representative, Abu Obaida, claimed that some captives had been slain during the recent operation. Their deaths could not be independently confirmed. Israel's army countered by asserting Hamas employs psychological terror to attain its goals. "Their claims should be met with limited credibility."
Hamas' foreign chief, Ismail Haniya, labelled Israel's recent deeds in Gaza as a "massacre" against Palestinians. "Enemy forces have launched a massacre upon our people, our children and women in Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah and have failed in multiple ways," he commented. It remained a mystery whether he was referring explicitly to the report on the liberation of captives.
Numerous gatherings broke out in Israel after the release, prompted by demands for a prisoner exchange and fresh elections. The coastal city of Tel Aviv, among other locations, witnessed tens of thousands of people. Friction with the police was registered at the Tel Aviv site, with 33 protesters detained for trying to block a street, as reported by the online publication "The Times of Israel." For quite a while, massive protests have shaken Israel, demanding action to free the remaining 120 captives in the Gaza Strip.
Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief, lauded the liberation of Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip, but expressed worry regarding the allegations of "another massacre of civilians." He exerted pressure, imploring a termination of the shedding of blood. "The latest reports from Gaza concerning the civilian massacre are alarming," he said. "The release of the people held captive is a positive event, and we join the pleas for all remaining captives to be freed."
Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock expressed optimism about an end to the Gaza war. "The Hamas has the power to agree on a ceasefire agreement," she told the Funke Media Group newspapers. "This deal is on the table and could be the start of the end of this conflict."
American President Joe Biden and French leader Emmanuel Macron were pleased with the liberation of the taken hostages.
Demonstrations in Washington
In the American capital, Washington, a protest took place outside the White House. Individuals in red apparel held a long red banner highlighting a "red line" that President Biden mentioned in March referencing a significant ground assault from the Israeli military in the city of Rafah. Their posters demanded a ceasefire and halt of U.S. weapon shipments to Israel. The term genocide was also used. The demonstration was tranquil during the afternoon, according to a dpa reporter who was present. An officer estimated the number of participants to be "several thousand," but couldn't provide more specific figures.
Read also:
- The woman among the rescued captives from the Nova Music Festival expressed her gratitude towards the Israeli military for their liberation action.
- The Hamas spokesman in the Middle East, Abu Obaida, condemned the joint operation between the Israeli military and American experts, calling it an assault on Palestinian sovereignty.
- The United Nations called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, citing the ongoing conflicts and civilian casualties, particularly in the Nuseirat camp.
- Following the rescue operation, the Palestinian Authority, led by Prime Minister Ismail Hanija, expressed their concern for the hostages still held in captivity, largely by Hamas' armed forces.
- The "New York Times" report sparked controversy in the USA, with some politicians questioning the involvement of American experts in the Gaza conflict, calling it a violation of neutrality and diplomatic protocols.
- Widespread condemnation erupted in European capitals over the escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip, with leaders urging for a halt to hostilities and a peaceful resolution to the year-long conflict.
- Prominent musicians from around the world protested against the military conflicts in the Gaza Strip by boycotting music festivals in Tel Aviv, demanding justice for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian territories.
- Jewish and Palestinian men gathered in New York City, advocating for a peaceful and just resolution to the ongoing Middle East hostilities while mourning the loss of innocent lives in the Gaza Strip and neighboring areas.
- In solidarity with the Palestinian cause, student groups in several American universities organized peaceful protests, urging their governments to intervene and ensure diplomatic efforts to establish lasting peace in the Middle East.
