Israel has released a dramatic video showing the country’s special forces successfully rescuing hostages held by Hamas in a daring raid on the central Gaza area of Nuseirat on Saturday. The video, which was posted on the Israeli Police’s official Telegram channel on Monday, captures the intense moments of the operation as the special forces from the elite Yamam counter-terrorism unit and agents from the Shin Bet navigate through bushes under fire to reach the building where the hostages were being held.
The footage, recorded from helmet cameras, shows the officers moving stealthily towards the building, their voices audible as they communicate with each other. In the midst of the chaos, one of the officers asks the hostages to identify themselves, to which he receives a response that confirms their presence. “Three [hostages] are in our hands,” the officer announces, successfully completing the mission to rescue Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, and Noa Argamani.
The hostages had been held captive by 36-year-old Palestinian journalist Abdullah Al-Jamal and his father, 74-year-old physician Ahmed Al-Jamal, on the orders of Hamas. Sadly, Abdullah was killed during the rescue operation, but his involvement with media outlets like The Palestine Chronicle and Al Jazeera has been uncovered. The Western Journal reported that while the raids were taking place, a separate operation in a nearby building was underway to rescue the fourth and final hostage, Noa Argamani.
The rescue mission, however, was not without its challenges, as the cover of the special forces was blown during the operation, leading to a gunfight on the streets of Nuseirat. According to The Wall Street Journal, this situation was exacerbated when Israeli armored vehicles were attacked and disabled by Palestinian terrorists. Thankfully, another group of Israeli soldiers intervened and ensured the safe evacuation of the rescued hostages to an area near the U.S.-constructed pier in Gaza, from where they were flown back to Israel.
The operation to rescue the hostages was meticulously planned and carefully executed, with specialized training and intelligence gathering taking place for almost a month before the mission was carried out. Reports suggest that the special forces chose to carry out the operation during the day to catch the perpetrators off guard. To make this mission successful, a “fusion cell” was formed in Israel with the help of American and Israeli military intelligence analysts, who used advanced techniques to monitor and pinpoint the locations of the hostages, as The New York Times revealed.
???? WATCH: One of the first moments when Shlomi, Andrey and Almog board the “Yasur” helicopter after being rescued from Hamas after 245 days as hostages: pic.twitter.com/m090cHf8Ym
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 10, 2024
Israeli rescue operation on hostages held by Hamas in Nuseirat, central Gaza, was a feat of bravery and precision, made possible by the hard work and coordination of various agencies and individuals. The released footage provides a glimpse into the magnitude of the mission, showcasing the bravery and skills of the special forces involved. Thanks to their dedication, four individuals have been rescued from captivity and returned to safety.