The Israeli military rescued two Argentine Israeli hostages on an overnight mission in Gaza more than four months after they were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the group’s deadly invasion of Israel, officials announced Sunday night.
The two men, Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, were freed from captivity after Israeli soldiers stormed a residential building in Rafah, where at least seven people were also killed.
Both men, dual Argentine/Israeli citizens, were kidnapped and taken to Gaza from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak along with other loved ones during the October 7 Hamas attack, which sparked the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. The men are the second and third hostages rescued by the Jewish State.
Marman and Har, who are brothers-in-law, are in good medical condition, the Israel Defense Forces said.
Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said during a briefing that the rescue was based on “accurate intelligence” and that the location where the hostages were being held – on the second floor of the building – had been under surveillance for “some time.”
Rescued Argentine Israeli hostage Fernando Simon Marman is reunited with his family at the Tel Hashomer hospital in Ramat Gan on February 12, 2024. Israeli Army/AFP via Getty Images Fernando Simon Marman and Louis Har, two Israeli hostages who, according to the Israeli army, were freed in a special forces operation in Rafah, Gaza, and were reunited with their loved ones at the Sheba Medical Center on February 12, 2024. via REUTERS
“It was a very complex operation,” Hecht said. “We have been working on this operation for a long time. “We were waiting for the right conditions.”
The hostages were hit after an explosive burst into the building while an intense exchange of fire took place with surrounding buildings and multiple airstrikes were carried out.
Israeli planes, tanks and ships were involved in the attacks that hit two mosques and several homes, residents told Reuters.
Louis Har was freed in a special forces operation in Rafah, Gaza. Via REUTERS
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined the country’s military chief and other senior officials during the operation.
Har’s daughters were “ecstatic” about their father’s rescue, former New York state Assemblyman Dov Hikind told The Post on Sunday night.
A daughter, Rinat Har, spoke to Hikind after the good news.
An Israeli Air Force helicopter carrying two freed hostages at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, on February 12, 2024. AP
“She’s on top of the world, just crying on the phone, totally crying,” Hikind said in an interview. “She’s never heard her sound so good. At other times, you felt the pain in every conversation.”
The two families became close after Rinat and her sister Natali stayed with the former politician and his wife at their Long Island home in November while visiting the United States to raise awareness about the hostages.
The two sisters, who are also Marman’s nieces, suffered overwhelming grief over the past four months.
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in an Israeli strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, on February 11, 2024. AP
“Every moment is absolute hell,” Hikind remembers Rinat telling him. “It was hell for them.”
Some 250 Israelis were captured by Hamas terrorists following their cross-border attack last year. About 1,200 people were killed during the sneak attack.
More than 100 hostages, including Har’s companion and Marman’s sister Clara Marman, her other sister Gabriela Leimberg and her niece Mia Leimberg, were freed by Hamas during a week-long ceasefire in November.
But Israeli officials estimate that approximately 100 hostages remain in Gaza. Hamas also holds the remains of about 30 people who were killed on October 7 or died in captivity.
Since Israel launched its retaliatory attack on Gaza, its army has killed 28,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the territory.
With post cables
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Source: vtt.edu.vn