At least 210 Palestinians and several hostages were killed when four were rescued from captivity yesterday, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
At the same time, Hamas threatens that Israel’s actions put all those still held captive in Gaza in danger.
– I think we have to agree to an agreement to end the war, says Omri Bichovsky, anti-government protester, Tel Aviv.
During the operation, which was carried out in the middle of the day, 26-year-old Noa Argamani, 22-year-old Almog Meir, 41-year-old Shlomi Ziv and 27-year-old Andrei Kozlov were released from their captivity since 7 October.
They were flown back from the central Gaza Strip to Israel by helicopter, and are seen in pictures jubilantly received by relatives. They are “medically in good health”, but have still been taken to hospital for checks, according to statements from the Israeli military.
It is the first time Israel has managed to rescue so many hostages alive. And the four were able to be reunited with relatives yesterday – after 246 days in captivity.
“We have to agree to an agreement”
There were many strong emotions in circulation yesterday as anti-government demonstrators in Israel held their weekly protest. Joy at the release, concern about remaining hostages and anger that the peace talks are going nowhere.
– I think we have to agree to an agreement to end the war, says Omri Bichovsky, anti-government protester, Tel Aviv.
But the release is reported to have been very bloody. According to the IDF, parts of the hostages were kept in an apartment building. Gaza’s Ministry of Health, which is controlled by Hamas, reports that 210 people were killed and over 400 injured.
Women and children affected
The situation in the hospitals after the attacks is described by Doctors Without Borders as a nightmare. Several of the victims are said to be women and children.
– Absolutely nothing can justify what I saw today, says Karin Huster, on site at al-Aqsa hospital in a dispatch from the organization to TT.
She describes children with burns in the emergency room, screaming for their parents – or completely silent due to the shock.
– What affects us affects everyone. Everyone is leaving, says Mohamed Najem, internally displaced person in Gaza.