What happened Four Israeli hostages have been reunited with their families after a rescue mission in Gaza on Saturday, but local officials claim that 274 Palestinians were killed in the operation. Noa Argamani (pictured above), Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv were brought home eight months after they were kidnapped from the Nova music festival by Hamas on 7 October.
Who said what "Unusually," said CNN, "the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) opted for a daytime raid on the Nuseirat camp in central Gaza." This allowed for a "greater element of surprise", but meant the streets were "teeming with people shopping at a nearby market".
Local residents described the attack as "hell on earth" as civilians were struck down by air strikes and the resulting shrapnel. The IDF disputes that 274 Palestinians were killed and says the actual number of casualties was "under 100".
What next? The "audacious" mission "instantly raised morale in Israel and offered at least a momentary victory" for Benjamin Netanyahu, said Isabel Kershner, reporting from Jerusalem for The New York Times.
But it fails to move the dial for the embattled prime minister, who last night lost the support of opposition leader Benny Gantz, who resigned from the war cabinet he joined after the 7 October attacks. With the stability of Netanyahu's government still "hanging in the balance", Israel's "euphoria" over the rescue "may be fleeting". |