Israel carried out massive airstrikes on the town of Rafah in southern Gaza overnight from Sunday to Monday, killing 67 civilians, including women and children. Israel says it was an operation to rescue captives in the Gaza Strip.
Two Israeli captives – identified as Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70 – were rescued during the operation. They were captured by Hamas fighters from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on October 7.
Israel has described rescuing captives as one of the main goals of its war in Gaza, in which more than 28,000 people have been killed, most of them women and children.
However, far more captives were freed through diplomatic negotiations and during a brief truce than were saved through military operations. And Israel’s own military operations have resulted in the deaths of some captives.
How many captives were taken on October 7?
At the time, Hamas’ military wing, the Qassam Brigades, said it had taken 200 to 250 prisoners.
According to Israeli authorities, the number of captives is 240, including Israeli soldiers, civilians and foreigners. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari confirmed that a “significant” number of prisoners are military officers.
Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzouk said the following in November: “All those captured for us are Israelis, although there is a call to examine their original nationality in the hope that it will save them. »
How many captives were released or rescued?
In mid-October, the first group of captives was released by Hamas, four in total. On October 20, two American citizens were released – Judith Raanan, 59, and her daughter, Natalie Raanan, 17. On October 23, two Israeli women were released – Nurit Cooper, 79, and Yocheved Lifshitz, 85.
At the end of October, soldier Ori Megidish was released during a ground operation carried out by Israeli forces.
By the end of a six-day truce on November 30, 105 prisoners had been released by Hamas and 240 Palestinian prisoners had been released by Israel. A number of foreign nationals – one Filipino, one with dual Israeli-Russian citizenship and 23 Thai citizens – were among those released.
How many captives were killed?
According to the Qassam Brigades, 50 captives were killed during Israeli air raids. Israeli intelligence agents say 30 captives have died in Gaza since they were taken to the enclave.
On December 16, three Israeli captives were mistakenly killed by Israeli soldiers in the Shujayea neighborhood of Gaza City. The captives carried a stick with white flags on which were written “SOS” and “Help, three hostages” in Hebrew. They were identified as Yotam Haim Samer, Fouad Al-Talalka and Alon Lulu Shamriz.
The same day, hundreds of people took to the streets of Tel Aviv to protest the killing of the three captives, blocking the city’s main streets and shopping centers.
“This is an unbearable tragedy, and all of Israel mourns its loss this evening,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.
What has Israel said about its rescue operations?
Netanyahu was asked on US television channel ABC on Sunday how many of the remaining 132 prisoners were still alive. He said: “Enough to justify the kind of efforts we are making, and we are going to try to do our best to recover everyone who is alive and, frankly, the bodies of the dead as well. »
After Marman and Har were freed that night in an operation that killed 100 Palestinian civilians, Netanyahu said: “Only continued military pressure, until complete victory, will result in the release of all our hostages. »
He rejected negotiations with Hamas to release the rest of the prisoners.
However, Israeli and Hamas officials are in talks for a new truce and the release of prisoners, but details of the negotiations in Cairo and the conditions have not yet been disclosed.
A three-phase truce offer presented by Hamas last week was rejected by Israel.
It has since announced plans to launch an offensive in Rafah, amid international pressure against the operation in a town populated by 1.4 million people, most of whom were displaced from other parts of Gaza by four months of Israeli bombings and ground operations. .
World leaders, including United Nations chief Antonio Guterres and US President Joe Biden, have warned against the offensive. The White House said Israel had an “obligation” to protect civilians in Rafah.
“A major military operation in Rafah should not take place without a credible plan to ensure the safety and support of the more than a million people who have sought refuge there,” Biden said Monday after meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan to the White House.
