Over the weekend, Israeli special forces successfully rescued four hostages – Andrey Kozlov, Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir, and Noa Argamani. The dramatic video of the raid shared by the Israeli military has since been viewed worldwide. However, the aftermath of the operation and the Palestinian civilians who survived it have received less attention. Tel Aviv is now grappling with the impact of the rescue mission, and it remains to be seen how this event will influence the region’s political landscape.
During our visit to Gaza, we had the opportunity to speak with Abedelraof Meqdad, a 60-year-old eyewitness. He graciously showed us around his home, which had been riddled with bullets. Interestingly, his home was located directly across the street from the location where an Israeli military vehicle had broken down due to intense Hamas gunfire.
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According to CBS News, Meqdad was dragged to his living room by Israeli forces who demanded to know if there were any fighters or weapons in his home.
He stated that he was simply a merchant and that there were no fighters or weapons present.
After everything had come to an end, two of Meqdad’s grandsons had suffered from gunshot wounds.
While undergoing arm reconstruction at a hospital, CBS News located Moamen Mattar, a 16-year-old survivor. His arm was severely injured in the incident.
During our conversation, he revealed the heartbreaking news that his brother did not make it.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 274 individuals lost their lives in the rescue operation, with many hundreds more sustaining injuries. However, Israel has contested this figure and places the blame on Hamas for using civilians as human shields around the hostages.
During his visit to Gaza this week, James Elder, the representative for UNICEF, witnessed the disturbing aftermath of the hospital raid firsthand, as he shared with CBS News.
Based on the latest data available, it has been revealed that nearly half of Gaza’s total population, which is approximately 47%, comprises individuals who are under the age of 18. This is a significant factor contributing to the alarming number of child fatalities that have been reported during this ongoing conflict.
As the war continues, the possibility of a cease-fire remains uncertain. Expressing his disappointment on Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that Hamas had suggested modifications to the current U.S.-supported plan, which Israel had already agreed to. Blinken lamented that Hamas had waited for two weeks before making these changes, thereby prolonging the conflict they had initiated. Consequently, the fighting will persist.
