Israel Rescues 2 Hostages , in Overnight Raid on Rafah.
NBC reports that Israel's military has announced the rescue
of two hostages in an overnight operation into Rafah,
where over 1 million displaced people are sheltering. .
According to local officials,
the Israeli raid claimed the lives of dozens
of people in the refuge of Rafah.
A spokesperson from the Palestinian
Health Ministry said that the strikes
on Rafah killed at least 67 people. .
The rescue of 60-year-old Fernando Marman and
70-year-old Louis Har came amid international
concerns over Israel's planned ground assault on Rafah.
A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces
said that the operation included a "wave of strikes"
aimed at striking Hamas operatives in the area.
NBC reports that the strikes sparked widespread panic
in Rafah, with crowds racing to take injured loved ones,
including children, to the nearby Kuwait hospital.
The IDF confirmed that strikes took place in the area of
Shaboura, while denying Gazan health officials' claims
regarding the number of Palestinians killed in the raid. .
In a separate statement, the IDF added that the two
rescued men were both in good medical condition and are
receiving care at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center.
NBC reports that Israel's war in Gaza has
already killed over 28,000 Palestinians
and injured over 67,700 others. .
International concern has grown over Israel's planned
offensive on Rafah, where over half of Gaza's population
has sought refuge after the area was declared a "safe zone."