Captives’ families urge Israeli gov’t to do more for those still held in Gaza
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum have lauded what they called a “heroic operation” by Israeli forces to rescue four captives.
However, the group reiterated that while it was a joyous moment, the government must remember its “commitment to bring back all 120 hostages still held by Hamas”.
“We continue to call upon the international community to apply the necessary pressure on Hamas to accept the proposed deal and release the other 120 hostages held in captivity; every day there is a day too far,” the group said on X.
The heroic operation by the IDF that freed and brought home Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Andrey Kozlov, and Almog Meir Jan is a heroic triumph.
Now, with the enormous joy all over Israel, the Israeli government must remember its commitment to bring back all 120 hostages still held… pic.twitter.com/bjzaDOy8se
— Bring Them Home Now (@bringhomenow) June 8, 2024
Netanyahu says Israel won’t stop until all captives returned home
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel does not give in to “terrorism”, adding that forces were operating “creatively and bravely” to rescue the captives in Gaza.
“We are committed to do so in the future as well. We will not let up until we complete the mission and return home all the hostages – both those alive and dead,” Netanyahu said.
Israeli officer killed in Nuseirat operation, says police
Israeli police say Counter-Terrorism Unit commander Arnon Zamora was killed during the operation to rescue captives this morning.
The police said Zamora had been critically wounded during the operation and taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
US assisted with operation to release captives: Report
According to Axios, citing a US administration official, the American hostages unit in Israel assisted in the release of the four Israeli captives in Gaza.
We reported earlier that US President Joe Biden is expected to be making remarks in France in this coming hour about the captives.
Israel will use images of rescued captive ‘to justify the killing’
Palestinian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Majed Bamya has said that as people rejoice for the reunification of families in Israel, the world must not forget that more than 100 Palestinians have been killed.
“Scores of civilians and many children were killed today in the Israeli operation and they may not be mentioned or will be a footnote in today’s news at best,” he said in a post on X.
“As you smile seeing a father finally embracing his daughter in Tel Aviv, shed a tear for the father having to bury his daughter in Gaza,” he added.
He said that there is a way for Palestinian and Israeli families to be “reunited in life not in death”.
“That is the success we should all be striving for. After eight months of massacres, Israel will use today’s images to try and justify the killing of 36,000 Palestinians and the destruction of the lives of 2.3 million Palestinians. Don’t let it.”
Palestinian death toll in Nuseirat refugee camp rises to 210
According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, “the Israeli massacre that took place in Nuseirat refugee camp has led to the killing of 210 Palestinians and the injury of more than 400”.
In a statement on its official Telegram channel, the media office said the injured were taken to al-Awda Hospital in the camp and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah.
Biden welcomes release of the four captives
The US president is speaking in Paris where he is on a five-day visit to France. He said, “We won’t stop working until all the hostages come home and a ceasefire is reached. It is essential that it happens”, he said in a presser with his French counterpart Macron.
