Israel rescues two hostages in Rafah, as health officials say 67 people killed by air strikesABC / Reuters

Thank God for the release of the 2 hostages – shame 67 innocents had to be killed to achieve it – maybe Israel could get all hostages released if it stopped the genocide and made a deal with Hams – Mark

Israel has launched a special forces operation that freed two Israeli hostages in Rafah amid air strikes, which local health officials said killed 67 people and wounded dozens in the southern Gaza city.

A joint operation by the Israel Defense Forces, Israel’s domestic Shin Bet security service and the Special Police Unit in Rafah freed Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Louis Hare, 70, the Israeli military said.

The two men, who were kidnapped by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on October 7, were in good condition and taken to the Tel Hashomer Medical Complex, the military said.

“It was a very complex operation,” Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hecht said.

“We’ve been working a long time on this operation. We were waiting for the right conditions,” he added.

The hostages were being held on the second floor of a building that was breached with an explosive charge during the raid, which saw heavy exchanges of gunfire with surrounding buildings, Lieutenant Colonel Hecht said.

At the same time, an air strike was carried out to allow the forces to be extracted, he said.

The air strikes caused widespread panic in Rafah as many people were asleep when the strikes started, said residents contacted by the Reuters news agency using a chat app.

Some feared Israel had begun its ground offensive into Rafah.

Israeli planes, tanks and ships took part in the strikes, with two mosques and several houses hit, according to residents.