IDF Rescues 2 Hostages During Overnight Gaza Raid
Israel’s military announced on Monday that special forces had rescued two hostages from Hamas captivity overnight in the southern Gaza Strip. This marks the first successful extraction of captives since the onset of the war on Oct. 7.
According to the IDF, Fernando Simon Marman, 61, and Norberto Louis Har, 70—both abducted from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak—were transferred to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv and remain in good condition.
Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, during a morning press briefing, dubbed the operation “Golden Hand” and said that it had been in the works for a significant amount of time. Hagari detailed the extraction: “Following an airstrike, at 1:49 a.m. (local time), the special forces broke into a building in the heart of Rafah and found Merman and Har on the second floor being guarded by armed terrorists.”
Hagari said that soldiers used their bodies to shield hostages from the ensuing gunfire as the air force provided cover for the ground operation. One soldier was lightly wounded during the extraction, and according to Hagari, “many terrorists were eliminated.”
“It was a very tense and very touching night. Such an operation was made possible thanks to the great sacrifice of the standing army and reserve troops who fell and were injured in the battles. Without their sacrifice, we would not have reached this moment,” he continued. In a message to the remaining hostages, Hagari said: “If you can hear me now, we are very determined to bring you home, and we will not miss any opportunity to bring you home.”
