The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released combat footage on Monday that showed commandos raiding locations in Gaza and recovering hostages that Palestinian Islamic terrorists kidnapped on October 7.
The footage was recorded on a helmet camera as the operators carried out the mission in Nuseirat, a camp in the Gaza Strip.
The Saturday raids at the two locations resulted in the rescue of four hostages that have been in Hamas captivity for eight months: Noa Argamani, 25; Almog Meir Jan, 21; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 40.
Heavy gun fire can be heard in the video as the soldiers run toward the building where some of the hostages were being held.
The commandos can be seen forcefully clearing rooms in the building before they find three of the hostages. While in the room, gunfire erupted as soldiers appeared to be firing out of the window.
Heavy gunfire erupted again as the hostages escaped the building as Israeli forces appear to have been laying down covering fire.
WATCH:
This is the moment the IDF rescued the hostages. Heroes of Israel.
They should inspire the world. pic.twitter.com/i9GWEph5Fk
— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) June 10, 2024
The mission marks the most successful hostage rescue operation for the IDF since Hamas captured at least 250 people from Israel during its October 7 terrorist attack. In February, the IDF rescued two Israeli hostages — Fernando Marman, 61, and Louis Har, 71 — who were being held by Hamas in Rafah.
The rescue mission had been planned by the IDF for weeks, said IDF spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, who added that during the rescue operation, Israeli forces were under fire from Hamas while in the buildings and on their way out of Gaza with the hostages.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said in a video message that the mission was “one of the most heroic and extraordinary operations I have witnessed over the course of 47 years serving in Israel’s defense establishment.”
“IDF, ISA and Special Forces, as well as the forces who supported [those in the field], have conducted an unprecedented operation — daring in nature, planned brilliantly, and executed in an extraordinary fashion,” he continued. “The various security agencies cooperated closely — the IDF, ISA, and Special Forces — acting as one single unit.”
He noted that there was “heavy” gunfire that erupted during the rescue operation, which he said happened in the most complex [urban environment in Gaza].
“I do not remember having completed operations of this kind — at this intensity and with this level of cooperation and success,” he said, later adding: “We will do everything possible to return all the hostages home.”
Zach Jewell contributed to this report.
Related: WATCH: Footage Emerges Of Israel Rescuing Hostages From Palestinian Terrorists
