9/6/2024–|Last updated: 6/9/202403:14 AM (Mecca time)
The US Central Command denied reports that the pier was used in the operation carried out by Israel on Saturday to recover 4 prisoners in the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip, and considered any such claim to be incorrect.
The US Central Command said in a statement at dawn on Sunday that the Israeli army used the area south of the pier in its military operation to recover the prisoners, stressing that the temporary pier was established on the Gaza coast for the purpose of helping transport aid to the Strip only.
Statement by the US Central Command regarding the rescue operations carried out by the IDF today
The humanitarian dock facility, including its equipment and personnel, were not used in today’s hostage rescue operation in Gaza. The Israelis used the area south of the facility to safely return the hostages… pic.twitter.com/6vm9cPrkPD
— US Central Command (@CENTCOMArabic) June 8, 2024
There were reports that Israeli forces entered the camp to recover the prisoners under humanitarian cover via aid vehicles coming from the floating pier.
Video footage on Saturday showed the moment the occupation army evacuated the four detainees whom it announced had recovered from the Nuseirat camp, in front of the American naval pier.
In front of the American naval pier…the moment the occupation army evacuated the four detainees who were announced to be liberated from the Nuseirat camp#Gaza_War pic.twitter.com/cBffpy6fMH
– Tel Aviv Tribune Channel (@AJArabic) June 8, 2024
For its part, the Axios website reported on Saturday – citing a US administration official – that what it described as the “American kidnappers cell in Israel” helped in the return of the four detainees.
For its part, CNN quoted an unnamed American official as saying that an American cell in Israel participated in the operation with the Israeli forces.
The official said that the American cell is a team that has been present to support Israel since last October 7, by collecting information about the detainees.
There were no American forces on the ground during today’s mission, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Tel Aviv Tribune bureau chief Walid Al-Omari did not rule out that the United States had helped in recovering the four detainees.
CNN previously reported that the United States has offered Israel special operations planning and intelligence support as part of efforts to rescue detainees in Gaza, according to a US defense official. The assistance will come in the form of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, according to the official.
210 Palestinians were martyred and more than 400 were injured on Saturday, in a massacre committed by Israeli forces after a violent artillery and air bombardment that targeted the Nuseirat camp, and an Israeli special forces officer was killed in the operation.
Israel has continued its devastating war on the Gaza Strip since last October 7, which left more than 120,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, despite the International Criminal Court’s intention to issue international arrest warrants against its Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and its Defense Minister, Yoav Galant, for their responsibility for war crimes and crimes. against humanity.
Israel also ignores a resolution from the UN Security Council for an immediate ceasefire, and orders from the International Court of Justice to take immediate measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Source : Tel Aviv Tribune + Agencies + social media sites