More than 270 Palestinians Killed in Raid to Rescue Hostages in Gaza

On Saturday, a significant Israeli air and ground raid in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least 274 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. 

This operation aimed to rescue four hostages held by militants within Nuseirat, a densely populated refugee camp home to over 85,000 refugees. 

The raid also left around 700 people wounded, marking one of the deadliest days in Gaza in recent months.

The Gaza health ministry reported that 64 children and 57 women were among the dead, underscoring the devastating impact on civilians. 

Medics described the death toll as the highest in months, a grim indicator of the escalating violence. 

The ministry's figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants, highlighting the complexity and indiscriminate nature of the conflict.

Eyewitnesses provided harrowing accounts of the destruction. 

A nurse at Al-Aqsa hospital recounted how the aggressive bombardment left bodies scattered in the streets, with approximately 500 to 600 injured individuals brought to the hospital. 

The intensity of the attack made it difficult for medical and emergency personnel to reach and assist the wounded during the operation.

The raid's impact on the densely packed Nuseirat camp was catastrophic. 

Witnesses like Nidal Abdo described scenes of unimaginable devastation, with children torn apart and entire areas wiped out. 

The continued bombings even after the ground operation compounded the humanitarian crisis, straining Gaza's already decimated health infrastructure.

The operation succeeded in rescuing four hostages: 26-year-old Noa Argamani, 22-year-old Almog Meir Jan, 27-year-old Andrey Kozlov, and 41-year-old Shlomi Ziv. 

These individuals had been abducted by Hamas militants in October during an attack at the Nova musical festival near the Gaza border. 

Despite the successful extraction, the operation came at a high cost, with Israeli counterterrorism officer Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora succumbing to wounds sustained during the mission.

International reactions were swift and condemnatory. Reports of civilian casualties and the scale of the destruction drew widespread outrage. 

Josep Borrell Fontelles, the top EU diplomat, expressed horror at what he termed a "bloodbath" and reiterated calls for a ceasefire. 

The United States, which provided intelligence and logistical support for the operation, also faced scrutiny over its involvement in the complex and deadly assault.

As Gaza continues to grapple with the aftermath of this raid, the toll on its civilian population remains stark. 

The ongoing conflict, with over 37,000 Palestinians estimated killed since the war began, stands as one of the deadliest in the 21st century. 

This latest operation underscores the urgent need for international efforts to address and mitigate the humanitarian disaster unfolding in the region.

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