Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Israeli special forces disguise themselves as Palestinian while performing rescue mission to save hostages in Gaza


(MENAFN) In a daring and highly secretive operation, Israeli special forces reportedly disguised themselves as Palestinian refugees while carrying out a rescue mission to liberate hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The operation, which took place last week, saw Israeli commandos successfully rescue four individuals from two separate buildings within the Nuseirat refugee camp, located in central Gaza.

According to sources cited by ABC News, the Israeli forces posed as Palestinian refugees seeking shelter, allowing them to approach the buildings where the hostages were being held without raising suspicion. The special forces were already strategically positioned near the target locations, awaiting the green light from Israeli authorities to proceed with the rescue operation.

The mission unfolded swiftly, with the Israeli forces receiving the go-ahead at 11 am local time. Helicopters were deployed to extract the freed hostages and wounded officers from the Israeli Police National Counterterrorism Unit, which played a crucial role in the operation. The evacuations commenced at 12:15 pm, with the last helicopter landing at 12:45 pm at Sheba Medical Center in Israel.

The rescued hostages, identified as Almog Meir Jan (21), Noa Argamani (25), Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (40), were reported to be in good medical condition upon their liberation, according to statements by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) officials. Among them, Kozlov, a dual Russian-Israeli citizen, had been working as a security guard at the Nova festival when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, leading to his abduction.

While the rescue operation was successful in freeing the hostages, the IDF's incursion into Nuseirat resulted in casualties among the Palestinian population. According to officials from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, at least 274 Palestinians were killed, and 698 others were injured during the IDF operation.

This operation underscores the complexity and risks involved in conducting clandestine military missions, as well as the ongoing tensions between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The use of disguise by Israeli forces highlights the strategic tactics employed in such high-stakes operations, while also raising questions about the broader implications for civilian populations caught in the crossfire.

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