Two hostages have been rescued in an overnight Israeli military raid on Hamas targets in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson told reporters on Monday.
Here's what we know so far:
Who are the hostages? The hostages are 60-year-old Fernando Simon Marman and 70-year-old Louis Har, who were both taken 128 days ago during Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. They are dual Israel-Argentine nationals, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
The rescue operation: IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said that special forces entered a building in the center of Rafah at 1:49 a.m. local time (6:49 p.m. ET).
"At 1:50am, the air cover started the action by the Air Force and the southern command in order to allow the forces to detach and to hit Hamas terrorists in the area," he added. Within minutes, the two hostages were escorted out under fire from Hamas fighters and then taken to a "safe spot" in Rafah to get medical attention, Hagari added.
Status of hostages: The hostages are in good medical condition and have been transferred to Sheba Medical Center in Tel HaShomer. Their family members say they are in relatively good condition, but are showing signs of what they went through, including weight loss.
Deadly airstrikes in Rafah: The IDF confirmed Monday that they conducted "a series of strikes" on targets in the area of Shaboura, a district of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.
The Ministry of Health in Hamas-run Gaza told CNN Monday that at least 94 people were killed in overnight Israeli strikes on the city of Rafah. The Ministry also said it is still in the process of retrieving and identifying bodies, and that the death toll is expected to increase.
The intense bombings were part of an operation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to free two hostages held captive by Hamas. Earlier, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said more than 100 people had been killed by overnight strikes, in Rafah. The PRCS added more people are still trapped under rubble and that the death toll may increase.