Israel announced the release of two Hamas hostages during a nighttime operation in Rafah

Israeli security services announced the release of two hostages abducted by Hamas militants on October 7 during an operation in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, between the night of Sunday February 11 and Monday February 12. According to the Hamas Health Ministry, 52 people were killed following a series of Israeli attacks in the area.

Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Luis Harr, 70, were rescued during a nighttime operation in Rafah carried out jointly by the Shin Bet army. (Internal Security) And the Israeli police », according to a press release from these services. Two abductees from Kibbutz Nir Yitzchak “In good medical condition”.

“Three terrorists were killed in the building where they were being held”According to the Israeli military's initial assessment, it limited itself to confirming what it already had “Had a series of strikes against terrorist targets in the southern Gaza Strip”. At least 52 people were killed in the strikes, and 14 homes and three mosques were hit in different sections of the city, according to a Hamas health ministry statement.

Israel's allies are worried

According to the UN, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his army to prepare an attack on Rafah, where most of the Palestinian Territory's population now lives. Hamas warned on Sunday that such an attack would “Torpedo” A deal to free the hostages he still holds in Gaza.

“Victory is within reach”Benjamin Netanyahu profiled Rafa on American channel ABC News “The Last Castle” of “Hamas Terror Battalions”. Israel will confirm “Safe Route for Public Evacuation” The city added, without specifying where the civilians would take refuge. However, the overnight strikes did not mark the beginning of an offensive that has alarmed the international community, including Israel's main ally, the United States.

US President Joe Biden urged the Israeli Prime Minister during a telephone interview on Sunday “Safety Assurance” Many countries have issued warnings against the Palestinian people “Humanitarian Disaster” If the attack is on a densely populated city. France, A ReportFor his part his ” A Call to Stop Fighting »order “To avoid a disaster » Humanity.

Rafah, the last refuge of the Gazans

Also, on Sunday evening, Israeli police and the military announced the killing of two Palestinians responsible for stabbing attacks against an Israeli soldier at a police checkpoint in occupied and annexed East Jerusalem and another at a dam near occupied Bethlehem. West Bank.

The Ministry of Health of the Palestinian Authority, which governs the autonomous regions of the West Bank, announced that a 35-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces near Bethlehem. The Palestinian killed in East Jerusalem was a 15-year-old resident of the city, the official Palestinian Wafa agency said.

Rafah, which has become a massive camp, is the last urban center still untouched by the Israeli army and the main entry point for humanitarian aid, insufficient to meet the needs of a population threatened by famine and epidemics in the middle of winter. .