Israel rescues soldier held captive by Hamas

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects calls for ceasefire

SGGPO 10/31/2023 09:59

Israeli ground forces advanced deeper into Gaza on Oct. 30 with tanks and other armored vehicles, the Israeli military said, and an Israeli soldier captured during a Hamas attack on Oct. 7 was rescued in Gaza.

This is the first rescue since the war broke out on October 7. Israeli military officials said the female soldier, Ori Megidish, 19, was “healthy” and had been reunited with her family.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the “achievement” by Israeli security forces “illustrates our commitment to freeing all hostages.” Netanyahu also rejected calls for a ceasefire to facilitate the release of the captives or an end to the war, which he said would be long and difficult.

Meanwhile, Mr Netanyahu is facing growing anger over Israel's failure to prevent the worst surprise attack on the country in half a century, and has no plans to resign.

Israeli female soldier Ori Megidish reunited with her family after being rescued. Photo: Twitter

Hamas and other militant groups are believed to be holding around 240 hostages, including women and children. Hamas has released four hostages, saying it will release others in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

According to UN figures, some 117,000 people have been displaced by Israeli air strikes. They are in hospitals in northern Gaza, along with thousands of patients and staff. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said nearly 672,000 Palestinians were sheltering in schools and other facilities across Gaza, a figure four times over the limit. UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini accused Israel of “collectively punishing” Palestinians and forcing them from northern Gaza to the south, where they remain unsafe.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said that as of October 30, the death toll in Palestine had surpassed 8,300, mostly women and children. This figure is unprecedented in decades of violence between Israel and Palestine. More than 1.4 million people in Gaza have been forced to flee their homes. On the Israeli side, more than 1,400 people were killed (mostly civilians in the initial Hamas attack), also an unprecedented number.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/israel-giai-cuu-binh-si-bi-hamas-giam-cam-post712123.html