The mission to liberate two Argentinian hostages, Fernando Herman and Louis Norbeto Har, from Nir Yitzhak commenced with numerous airstrikes targeting Hamas’s Shabura battalion.
The joint efforts of the Shin Bet, IDF, and special police forces successfully carried out the rescue operation early Monday morning in the heart of Rafah. The airstrikes at approximately 1:00 a.m. were executed strategically to conceal the true objective of freeing the 61 and 70-year-old hostages.
Notably, two family members of the hostages had been previously released during the hostage exchange between November 23 and 30.
The operation had been planned for a while but was continuously canceled
The operation had been under consideration multiple times recently, but it was consistently called off until it received final approval on Monday morning.
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The hostages had been confined to the second floor of a heavily guarded building, with additional security provided by guards in the adjacent structure.
Israeli forces entered the compound covertly, employing explosives, heavy firepower, and precise intelligence regarding the exact positioning of the hostages in relation to their guards. This strategic approach ensured the rescue of Herman and Har without giving Hamas the opportunity to harm them preemptively.
Subsequently, a helicopter transported the hostages to Sheba Medical Center, where they are reported to be in good condition. During the operation, one soldier sustained minor injuries, but fortunately, there were no casualties.
