Israeli forces have swept through much of Gaza since the ground invasion began in late October. But they have only succeeded in freeing seven hostages in three separate military operations, and about 120 prisoners remain in Gaza. Two Israeli defense officials said several proposed rescue missions did not go ahead due to concerns that hostages or troops would die in the process.
In December, Israeli special forces attempted to free a hostage from Hamas, according to two defense officials. Israeli hostage Sahar Baruch was killed in the crossfire and two Israeli officers were seriously injured.
According to a defense official, Israeli intelligence first learned that Ms. Aghamani was being held in an above-ground building near the Nuserat market area. The official added that additional information later received indicated that there were three other hostages in another building in the same area.
Israeli military spokesman Maj. Gen. Daniel Hagari said Israeli officers had been working for weeks to assemble the necessary parts for the mission. He added that Israeli soldiers conducted intensive training based on models of buildings where hostages are believed to be held.
“This was a mission in the heart of a civilian community where Hamas was deliberately hidden between civilians and houses where armed militants were guarding the hostages,” Gen. Hagari said. “We must take action to get these hostages home alive. “
Two Israeli defense officials said the operation looked possible several times over the past three weeks, but all attempts were called off before Israeli forces were ready to launch the mission.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant met again with senior defense officials on Thursday to discuss the risks and possible consequences of the operation, a third Israeli official said on condition of anonymity. Case.
The country’s leaders approved the rescue mission that evening, the official said. But Admiral Hagari said the plan could still be canceled at the last minute.
Gen. Hagari said military chief of staff Hertz Halevi and Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence chief Ronan Barr gave final approval on Saturday morning minutes before the operation began around 11 a.m.
He added that they chose to operate during the day, attacking two buildings in Nuserat, in an attempt to catch Hamas off guard, as the armed group might have expected such an operation to take place at night.
Gen. Hagari said the attacks began simultaneously in two buildings, with hostages held in locked rooms surrounded by armed guards. He said police managed to catch the Hamas kidnappers off guard in the building where Ms Agamani was being held. In another, he added, Israeli forces fought a hard-fought firefight before reaching the three remaining hostages.
Gen. Hagari said that when they rescued the prisoners, the officers announced over the radio that “the diamond is in our hands” using a designated code word.
Gen. Hagari said Hamas militants opened fire on them and fired rockets as they left the building. He added that officers shielded the hostages with their bodies in an attempt to protect them, while Israeli aircraft carried out attacks in and around the area, targeting militants.
Khalil Daqran, a local official at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, told reporters that many Palestinians were killed and injured in the attack near the Nuseirat market, which he said was crowded with passers-by.
Gen. Hagari said he was told the military was aware of Palestinian casualties from the operation, but he could not confirm how many were militants. He added that Hamas tried to fire at Israeli troops from behind civilians.
He added that “the cynical way Hamas takes advantage of the population to fire on our troops” is “tragic”.
Gen. Hagari said the hostages were taken by car to two waiting helicopters. One of them carried Ms. Agamani and special forces officers. The second plane carried the remaining three hostages and a wounded police commander who later died of his injuries.
Around 1:30 p.m., the Israeli government announced that the four hostages were returning home.
