Nuseirat rescue and massacre
| 2024 Nuseirat rescue operation and massacre | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Gaza war | |
The landing of the rescued hostages at Sheba Hospital | |
| Location | |
| Objective | Rescue Israeli hostages held by Hamas |
| Date | 8 June 2024 |
| Executed by | Yamam, Shin Bet, Israel Defense Forces, Israel Air Force, Israeli Navy |
| Outcome |
|
| Casualties |
|
On 8 June 2024, during an operation to rescue hostages held in the Nuseirat refugee camp, the Israeli military killed at least 276 people and injured over 698, according to the Gaza Health Ministry and Palestinian health officials. The operation's objective was to recover hostages taken during the October 7 attacks. The Israeli military acknowledged fewer than 100 Palestinian deaths.
Four Israeli captives were rescued—Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir Jan, and Andrey Kozlov—from two multi-story residential apartment buildings in Nuseirat. According to the Israel Defence Force, they were held by Gazan civilians affiliated with Hamas and were guarded by armed Hamas militants.
During the operation, the Israeli military called in an intense air, sea, and ground attack. This resulted in civilian casualties. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the events as a "bloodbath." The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 274 Palestinians were killed in the camp, including 64 children and 57 women, with at least 698 people reported injured. The IDF said they were aware of fewer than 100 Palestinian casualties. Yamam officer Arnon Zamora was seriously injured and later died from his injuries.
Following the operation, Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman Abu Obaida warned that it would result in greater threats to the Israeli hostages. The brigades later released a short video saying that the raid had also killed three unnamed Israeli hostages, including one with dual citizenship of the USA. No evidence for this claim was provided. The OHCHR said that both Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups may have committed war crimes.