IDF Rescues Two Hostages From Gaza; Families Of Israeli Hostages To Approach ICC Against Hamas: Report (image@PalestineRCS)
Israeli military said that it has rescued two captives taken by Hamas during an overnight operation in Rafah. The military officials said that the captives were in good conditions. The rescued Israelis were said to be aged 60 and 70. They were rescued from the city in southern Gaza. Daniel Hagari, Israeli occupation force spokesperson, said that the rescue mission has been going “for a long time”.
“Conditions were not ripe to carry it out until now, and we waited for them to ripen…reaching the target in the heart of Rafah was very complex”. The rescued hostages are Fernando Simon Marman (60) and Louis Har (70). Hagari said two of them are in good health and were taken for medical tests at the Sheba Tel Hashomer Medical Center.
הותר לפרסום כי במבצע משותף של צה”ל, שב”כ ומשטרת ישראל (ימ”מ) ברפיח, חולצו הלילה שני חטופים ישראלים, פרננדו סימון מרמן (60) ולואיס הר (70) אשר נחטפו על ידי חמאס לרצועת עזה מניר יצחק ב-7/10.
מצבם של השניים טוב והם הועברו לבדיקות רפואיות במרכז הרפואי שיבא תל השומר. pic.twitter.com/S4GGCEhh8r
— דובר צה״ל דניאל הגרי – Daniel Hagari (@IDFSpokesperson) February 12, 2024
Meanwhile, families of the hostages under Hamas captive are planning to file a formal complaint at the International Criminal Court (ICC) IN The Hague, against Hamas leaders, as reported by Ynet, Israeli media.
Israeli and International lawyers will represent the hostages and their families. As per the report, the charges laid out in the complaint will be of Kidnappings, enforced disappearance, sexual violence, torture and more. The complaint at the International Criminal Court was aimed at getting an arrest warrant for Hamas leaders which would thereby add international pressure for the release of the hostages from the Hamas captivity.
Ynet added that the move had been prepared for four months by the legal department of the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum. A group of 100 representatives of the families will fly to The Hague in Netherlands this Wednesday. Following the submission of the complainant, some of the hostages released from Hamas captivity are also expected to travel to The Hague and testify against Hamas, alongside family members of those still in Gaza.
At the same time, Israel has started attacking Rafah, where over 1.3 million Palestinians were chased down since October 7th. The Israeli bombing on Rafah ahs killed 67 Palestinians so far and wounded dozens, as reported by Gaza’ s Health Ministry spokesperson Ashraf al-Qudra.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s order to start assault on Rafah has gained wide criticism from countries that vowed to be the close allies of Israel. American President Joe Biden called Netanyahu’s conduct of war in Gaza a little “over the top”. Now, Japan said it is “deeply concerned” over the “reports of an Israeli military operation in Rafah”.
In a statement, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said, “As the humanitarian situation on the ground deteriorates and the number of civilian casualties, including a large number of children, women, and elderly people, continues to rise, it is crucial to improve the humanitarian situation as soon as possible and to secure an environment in which humanitarian assistance activities can be carried out to achieve this”.
Hamas, the resistance group of Gaza in a statement said that “the Nazi occupation army’s attack on the city of Rafah tonight… which have claimed the lives of more than a hundred martyrs so far, is considered a continuation of the genocidal war and the attempts at forced displacement it is waging against our Palestinian people”, as quoted by Al Jazeera.
Australian Senator called the Israeli attack on Rafah “horrific and devastating”. David Shoebridge, the Australian Senator said that the attack on Rafah “while the US is watching the Superbowl is utterly horrific and devastating. Our hearts are with Palestinian people now more than ever”. David Shoebridge is a member of Australian Greens who have called ceasefire in Gaza and questioned Australia’s role in exporting munitions to Israel.
The attack on Rafah happening at 2am Gaza time while the US is watching the Superbowl is utterly horrific and devastating. Our hearts are with the Palestinian people now more than ever.
— David Shoebridge (@DavidShoebridge) February 12, 2024
US Senator Bernie Sanders said “no one in Congress” should support the Biden Administrations sending military aid to Israel. In a post on X, he called Netanyahu a “war machine” who is responsible for an “unprecedented humanitarian disaster”.
No one in Congress should vote to send $10 billion in military aid to Netanyahu’s war machine when they are responsible for an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. pic.twitter.com/shaKllzCDI
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 12, 2024
