CNN reported on Saturday that an American unit stationed in Israel provided support for the rescue mission of four Israeli hostages in the central Gaza Strip, according to a statement from a US official.
The official informed CNN, “An American cell in Israel supported the efforts to rescue four Israeli hostages, working with Israeli forces on the operation.”
The preparations for the operation had been underway for weeks, as per earlier reports by CNN, involving hundreds of personnel from the Israeli military, domestic intelligence service, and a specialized police unit.
Israel announced earlier on Saturday the successful retrieval of four Israeli hostages from the central Gaza Strip following a military operation. The freed hostages were identified by the army as Noa Argamani (25), Andrey Kozlov (27), Shlomi Ziv (40), and Almog Meir (21). They were found in two separate areas of the camp and were reported to be in good health.
Despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, Israel has persisted with its offensive on Gaza since an attack last October 7th. Local health authorities report that more than 36,700 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, have been killed, with over 83,500 others injured in Gaza since the beginning of the offensive.
After eight months of conflict, large parts of Gaza remain in ruins, compounded by a severe blockade on essential supplies like food, clean water, and medicine. Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, with a recent ruling mandating Tel Aviv to cease its operation in the southern city of Rafah, where over a million displaced Palestinians had sought refuge.