The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has released stunning footage showing the moment an elite unit of soldiers rescued 250 hostages alive near the Gaza security fence.
Known as the elite “Shayetet 13” unit, the group of soldiers is basically Israel’s Navy SEALS, and they proved it wonderfully on Oct. 7th.
Watch:
The Flotilla 13 elite unit was deployed to the area surrounding the Gaza security fence in a joint effort to regain control of the Sufa military post on October 7th.
The soldiers rescued around 250 hostages alive.
60+ Hamas terrorists were neutralized and 26gd were… pic.twitter.com/DWdHKZgdLw
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 12, 2023
“The soldiers are seen armed with what appears to be American M-4 carbines equipped with suppressors. Notably, at the 26-second mark, one team member is spotted with what seems to be a LAWS anti-armour rocket launcher,” according to WION.
“At the 30-second mark, a team member can be observed evacuating a captured Hamas operative from the scene. The hostage rescue operation, to the extent visible, commences around the 50-second mark,” WION notes.
According to the IDF, 60+ Hamas terrorists were “neutralized” and another 26 “apprehended” during the mission, including a top Hamas deputy commander.
Release of the footage comes amid reports that at least 150 Israeli hostages remain trapped in Gaza, where they were taken after being kidnapped. According to reports, the upcoming attempts to free and save them are expected to be “brutal.”
“Israel has a history of daring raids to rescue its citizens or kill its enemies, but the circumstances now are beyond anything the country has faced before. Israel estimates that 150 people are being held prisoner. Any rescue attempt in Gaza would most likely be paired with a major military push to smash Hamas, an operation that could jeopardize the lives of the hostages,” NBC News notes.
Especially since Hamas has threatened to execute a hostage every time Israel bombs Gaza.
Footage of Hamas terrorists taking hostages and burning down homes in settlements, according to @StandWithUs 150+ hostages are in the hands of Hamas. pic.twitter.com/qMQFEC7yLt
— Watchtower Herald (@WTHerald) October 10, 2023
“This is not going to be a John Wayne ending,” a former U.S. law enforcement official who previously worked “closely” with Israel told the outlet.
The first and toughest task will be gathering intelligence about Gaza, which will be complicated by the fact that Hamas controls everything there.
“The biggest challenge is intelligence — knowing where hostages are located and the conditions under which they are being held,” retired Army Gen. Joseph Votel said.
The only good news is that an American “team of experts” is reportedly in Israel assisting with the hostage crisis.
“I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts,” President Joe Biden said Tuesday.
NEW from @POTUS on US citizens in @Israel: “While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas. I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis…” pic.twitter.com/xXrmNCkHKY
— Andrew Feinberg (@AndrewFeinberg) October 9, 2023
Timing will reportedly be crucial, with Israeli forces needing to be ready to execute a rescue plan at lightning-fast speed.
“In such complex conditions, military operations to retrieve hostages will carry an unusually high risk both for the captives and for the Israeli commandos taking part, who will be hard-pressed to secure reinforcements if anything goes wrong in an enclave where Hamas fighters are on familiar ground, former officials said. Booby traps and the use of civilians and hostages as human shields are assumed,” NBC News notes.
“It’s going to be brutal,” an unnamed former national security official said.
There’s reportedly also the possibility that some or all of the hostages will be smuggled out of Gaza and into other countries like Egypt and Iran, the latter of which “has a long track record of using foreign nationals as leverage over adversaries.”
Meanwhile, as Israel (and the United States) prepare for a rescue operation, family members of the kidnapped are waiting in agony.
Family members like Noam Sagi, a London-based psychotherapist who believes his 74-year-old mother, Ada, is among the hostages.
“He hasn’t heard from her since early Saturday morning when she called him from a panic room at Kibbutz Nir Oz, a communal settlement near the southeastern border with Gaza,” according to the Associated Press.
“The only hope I have now is almost like for humanity to do something for me to see my mother again and for my son to see his grandmother again,” Sagi told the AP.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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