Relatives of two hostages rescued overnight from Gaza have appealed for a broader deal between Israel and Hamas to secure the release of other captives still held in the Palestinian territory.
An Israeli special forces raid in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah freed Louis Har, 70, and Fernando Simon Marman, 60, while around 100 Palestinians were killed in accompanying air strikes, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Speaking from an Israeli hospital where the two were undergoing medical tests, Har’s son-in-law described “a lot of tears, hugs, not many words” when the family was reunited.
“Luckily for us, as a family, they were saved tonight. But I must say that the job is not done,” Idan Bejerano told journalists at Sheba hospital near Tel Aviv.
“We are happy today, but we didn’t win. It’s just another step towards bringing all the other” hostages home, he continued.
Marman’s niece, Gefen Sigal Ilan, said she was still “shaking” from the news of her uncle’s rescue.
“When I saw him I couldn’t believe he was real,” she told AFP.
She said the families of hostages will keep fighting for the release of other captives.
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