In one of the deadliest operations of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, an Israeli raid on the Nuseirat refugee camp resulted in the deaths of at least 274 Palestinians, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported on Sunday.
The raid, which took place on Saturday, was launched to rescue four Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The freed hostages — Noa Argamani, 26; Almog Meir Jan, 22; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 41 — are reportedly in good medical condition and are currently undergoing medical examinations at a hospital, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The United States provided crucial intelligence that assisted in the rescue operation, including overhead imagery, according to The Washington Post. The operation involved Israeli fighter jets and ground troops targeting militant sites and tunnel shafts in central Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called for an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting to address the deadly raid. The Gaza Health Ministry stated that since the start of the conflict, over 37,000 people have been killed and 84,494 injured in Gaza, with a majority being women and children.
In Israel, the death toll includes around 1,200 people killed during the Hamas attack on October 7, and 294 soldiers killed in subsequent military operations in Gaza.
The raid has further intensified the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with hospitals struggling to cope with the influx of severely wounded patients. Doctors Without Borders described the situation at hospitals as chaotic, with medical staff overwhelmed by the number of casualties.
Despite international calls for a cease-fire, including from U.S. President Joe Biden, both sides remain entrenched in their positions. The successful rescue operation has bolstered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance on achieving a full military victory and securing the release of all remaining hostages before considering any cease-fire.
