Israel says two hostages have been rescued from Gaza, 128 days after capture

The Israeli military said this Monday (12) – Sunday night (11) in Brazil – that it rescued two hostages during a special operation carried out overnight in Rafah, in the south of Gaza.

The hostages are Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Har, 70, both captured 128 days ago, during the Hamas attack on Israel, on October 7.

The two are in good medical condition and have been transferred to Sheba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer, the Israel Defense Forces said. The joint operation was carried out with the Israel Security Agency and the Israel Police.

News of the release comes as Rafah was being hit by Israeli strikes. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said on Monday that more than 60 people had been killed in recent aerial bombardments and that the city was facing “intense attacks”.

A CNN cannot independently verify the numbers.

Attacks

At least two mosques and around a dozen houses were targeted in the attacks, Rafah city hall said on Monday.

Rafah has become a last refuge for Palestinians fleeing south to avoid Israel's air and ground campaigns in the rest of the crowded enclave. More than 1.3 million people are believed to be in Rafah, most displaced from other parts of Gaza, according to the United Nations.

And they have no escape route left; the city borders Egypt, and the only crossing into that country has been closed for months, along with the rest of Gaza's borders.

International alert is rising over a planned ground attack on Rafah, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting growing criticism of the plans – saying calls not to enter Rafah are like telling Israel to lose the war. He promised to provide safe passage for civilians but offered few details.