Dozens of Palestinians killed in Israeli raid to free 2 hostages

The United Nations and United States are urging Israel to scale back its offensive following a raid in Rafah that led to the rescue of two Israeli hostages and the deaths of at least 67 Palestinians, according to local officials.

On Sunday, Israel stormed a heavily guarded apartment building in the densely packed town that Israel described as the last remaining Hamas “stronghold.”

Video released by the Israeli Defensive Force showed the operation that rescued the two hostages they say were held in captivity for around 128 days.

However, the level of concern about the operation conducted at the border town continues to increase after dozens of Palestinians were reportedly killed during the offensive.

More than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million people have fled to Rafah in an effort to escape the fighting overwhelming other areas.

The UN is demanding that Israel abort its operation there, fearing that more citizens may be killed.

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The Biden administration has also expressed frustration.

“We don’t believe that its advisable to go in in a major way in Rafah without a proper, executable, incredible plan for the safety of the more than a million Palestinians that are taking refuge in Rafah,” the White House’s Security Communications Advisior, John Kirby told reporters.

“They’ve left the north and they certainly went south to Khan Younis to get out of the fighting so Israel has an obligation to make sure they can protect them.”

Despite it all, the frustration hasn’t translated to a lack of support.

“We’re going to continue to support Israel. They have a right and responsibility to go after Hamas and we’re going to make sure that they can continue to do that, but as from the very beginning, we’re going to make sure they do that fully accounts for the preservation of innocent life and civilian infrastructure.” he said.

The latest in Rafah has sparked tensions between Israel and Gaza’s neighbours. Egypt is now threatening to axe a decades-long peace treaty with Israel is it expands its operation in Rafah.

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