In a daring military operation, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) rescued four hostages from Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp on Saturday, an effort that Gazan officials report resulted in over 200 deaths and 400 injuries. 

The rescued hostages—Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv—were abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7. Following their rescue, they were transferred to Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center for medical evaluations. Tragically, an Israeli policeman from a special counter-terrorism unit lost his life during the operation.

The operation, conducted by the IDF with support from intelligence and special forces, targeted militant infrastructure before moving in on the hostage locations. The IDF had received precise intelligence about the hostages’ whereabouts but faced intense resistance from militants.

Gazan authorities reported that 236 people were killed and over 400 injured due to the heavy shelling and artillery fire that accompanied the operation. Casualties were taken to Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, with hospital officials struggling to cope with the influx

The IDF stated that it had to enter civilian areas where Hamas had embedded itself, which complicated the rescue efforts. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari explained that previous attempts to rescue hostages had been aborted due to unfavorable conditions, making Saturday’s success particularly significant.

The operation has sparked outrage in Gaza, with Hamas condemning it as a “brutal crime.” The militant group claimed that some hostages were killed during the rescue, a claim the IDF dismissed, citing Hamas’s use of psychological tactics.

In Israel, the rescue was met with mixed reactions. While families of the rescued hostages expressed immense relief, they also urged the government to continue efforts to secure the release of the remaining 116 hostages still held in Gaza.

As the conflict continues, the humanitarian toll mounts, underscoring the devastating impact of the ongoing hostilities on both sides.