In a high-stakes military operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) successfully liberated two Israeli hostages from the clutches of Hamas terrorists in Rafah.
The mission, executed despite alleged objections from US President Joe Biden, was carried out on Sunday.
The captives, Fernando Marman, 61, and Louis Har, 71, were abducted from Nir-Yitzhak on October 7. They are now safely recovering at Sheba Tel Hashomer hospital. The Israeli intelligence agency, Shin Bet, joined forces with the IDF to carry out this risky rescue mission in Rafah, a known Hamas stronghold located in the southern Gaza Strip.
Yoav Zitun, a reporter for Ynet, provided a detailed account of the operation. He reported that the hour-long operation involved an extended firefight within and around the building where the hostages were held. IDF tanks provided cover while dozens of airstrikes were carried out. Three Hamas militants who were guarding the hostages lost their lives, and one IDF soldier suffered minor injuries.
מבצע הירואי בלב רפיח: לוחמי השב”כ והימ”מ במעטפת של חיל האוויר, שייטת 13 ולוחמי השריון מחטיבה 7, חילצו בחיים את פרננדו מרמן ולואיס הר שנחטפו מניר-יצחק ב-7.10. השניים, בני 61 ו-70, במצב טוב ובביה”ח שיבא כעת. אין נפגעים לכוחותינו מלבד 1 הלוחמים שנפצע קל. המבצע נוהל במשך שעה וכלל קרב…
— יואב זיתון (@yoavzitun) February 12, 2024
According to the Israel National News, explosives were used to gain entry into the building where the hostages were held. A firefight ensued at the scene, and the Air Force launched attacks in the area. Fire also came from nearby buildings.
Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, IDF Spokesman, detailed the complexity of the operation. The officers reached Rafah around 1 a.m. and initiated a complex action on the premises, particularly the second floor where the hostages were held. “Reaching the target in the heart of Rafah was very complex,” Hagari admitted. The forces conducting the rescue “hugged and protected Louis and Fernando with their bodies.”
Hagari further explained that the troops extracted Louis and Fernando from the apartment under heavy fire, guiding them to safety. He praised the operation as professional and precise, attributing its success to the sacrifices made by standing and reserve troops who were injured or lost their lives in previous battles. Hagari ended his statement acknowledging that 134 hostages still remain captive in Gaza.
