'Barbaric': Israel's deadly rescue mission draws condemnation
Hamas has claimed that other Israeli hostages were killed in Saturday's operation - though did not provide evidence
Hundreds of people, including babies and children, were killed during Israel's operation in Gaza to rescue four hostages abducted by Hamas.
At least 270 Palestinians were killed in the military operation to free the hostages as explosions rocked the town of Nuserat, hospital sources have said.
The deadly mission has drawn condemnation, including from a top EU official.
The European Union's Foreign Minister Joseph Borrell, who tweeted on Sunday: “Reports from Gaza of another massacre of civilians are appalling.
"We condemn this in the strongest terms. The bloodbath must end immediately.”
In an earlier post on X, Borrell said: “We share the relief of their families and call for the release of all the remaining hostages.”
Israel’s military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, told reporters that military intelligence determined some time ago that the hostages were being held in two apartments, about 200 meters away from each other, in the heart of the Nuseirat camp in Gaza.
He said the forces had trained repeatedly on a model of the apartment buildings.
Hagari said the forces moved in simultaneously in broad daylight on both apartments, believing this ensured the best element of surprise.
But he said the rescuers came under heavy fire as they moved out, including from gunmen firing rocket-propelled grenades from within the neighborhood. One commando died from his injuries during the operation.
“A lot of fire was around us,” he said, adding that the military responded with heavy force, including from aircraft, to extract the rescuers and freed hostages.
Neighboring Egypt has condemned the attack “with the strongest terms”, with its foreign ministry calling it a “flagrant violation of all rules of international law.”
Neighboring Jordan also condemned it as a “brutal Israeli attack” that “reflects the systematic targeting of Palestinian civilians.”
Turkey also had critical words for Israel's raid, saying it was "barbaric".
Turkey's foreign ministry said on Sunday: "Israel has added a new one to the list of war crimes it has committed in Gaza."
Meanwhile, Israelis were jubilant hostages Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41 were.
The hostages were taken at the Supernova music festival during Hamas' attack on October 7 and held for 246 days.
After they were rescued, they were taken by helicopter for medical checks and tearful reunions with loved ones.
Argamani had been one of the most widely recognized hostages after being taken, like the three others, from the Supernove music festival. The video of her abduction showed her seated between two men on a motorcycle as she screamed, “Don’t kill me!”
In a message released by the government, Argamani told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who rushed to the hospital, that she was “very excited,” saying she hadn’t heard Hebrew in so long.
Netanyahu in a statement vowed to continue the fighting until all hostages are freed.
Reporters from AP said they saw dozens of bodies being brought to the Al-Aqsa hospital, including a baby, while hospital workers told ITV News the situation was "catastrophic".
“My two cousins were killed, and two other cousins were seriously injured. They did not commit any sin. They were sitting at home,” one relative said.
International pressure is mounting on Israel to limit civilian bloodshed in its war in Gaza, which reached its eighth month on Friday with more than 36,700 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
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