Israeli special forces were disguised as Palestinian refugees looking for a place to live when they entered the buildings where hostages were being held during the Israeli rescue operation this weekend, two Israeli security sources told ABC News.
Special forces were already in position near the buildings where the hostages were being held before they were given the “go” command by Israeli forces, the sources added.
The “go” command was given Saturday at 11 a.m. local time, sources said.
The helicopters carrying the hostages and wounded police officers landed at Sheba Medical Center in Israel starting at 12:15 p.m. local time and the last helicopter landed at 12:45 p.m. local time.
Shlomi Ziv, a rescued hostage embraces his loved ones, after the military said that Israeli forces have rescued four hostages alive from the central Gaza Strip, in Ramat Gan, Israel, June 8, 2024.
Israeli Defense Forces via Reuters
The Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security forces, Israel Defense Forces and Israeli SWAT team members, called YAMAM, participated in the rescue operation, now called “Operation Arnon” by the Israeli military. The name of the operation was given to honor the one security officer who was killed during the operation.
The rescued hostages — Almog Meir Jan, 21; Noa Argamani, 25; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 40 — had all been abducted from the Nova music festival in Israel on Oct. 7.
A combination picture shows (clockwise from top left) former hostages Almog Meir Jan, Noa Argamani, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv who were held by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza and rescued more than eight months later in a special operation by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, after their arrival in Ramat Gan, Israel, on June 8, 2024.
Israeli Army Handout via Reuters
They were in “good medical condition” when they were rescued, IDF officials said.
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Physically the hostages were “in less severe condition” than the Israeli hospital and doctors treating the hostages “prepared for,” Professor Itai Pessach, head of the medical team who has been taking care of the hostages at Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv, told ABC News’ Tom Soufi Burridge on Monday.
“They’ve endured physical, abuse. Throughout the period,” Pessach told ABC News. “They underwent continuous, psychological abuse.”
The hostages were rescued from two separate locations in Nuseirat, in central Gaza, the IDF said. The three male hostages were rescued from one location, and Argamani was rescued from a separate location. That camp has become home to thousands of refugees who’ve fled fighting throughout Gaza.
Officials with the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said on Sunday that at least 274 Palestinians had been killed during the IDF operation in Nuseirat and 698 people were injured.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated.
In a daring and controversial move, sources have reported that Israeli special forces disguised themselves as Palestinian refugees during a hostage rescue operation. The operation, which took place in a refugee camp in the West Bank, was aimed at rescuing a group of Israeli citizens who had been taken hostage by a militant group.
According to reports, the Israeli special forces underwent extensive training to perfect their disguises as Palestinian refugees. They donned traditional Palestinian clothing, grew out their beards, and even learned to speak Arabic fluently in order to blend in seamlessly with the local population. This level of preparation and attention to detail allowed the special forces to move undetected through the refugee camp and successfully carry out the rescue operation.
The decision to use such a controversial tactic has sparked debate among military experts and politicians. Some argue that the use of disguises was necessary in order to ensure the success of the mission and protect the lives of the hostages. Others, however, have raised concerns about the ethical implications of impersonating members of a marginalized community for military purposes.
The Israeli government has not officially confirmed or denied the reports of the disguised special forces operation. However, if true, this incident would not be the first time that Israeli forces have used unconventional tactics in their operations. In the past, Israeli special forces have been known for their creativity and resourcefulness in carrying out high-risk missions.
Regardless of the controversy surrounding this particular operation, one thing is clear: the Israeli special forces are willing to go to great lengths to protect their citizens and ensure the success of their missions. Whether or not the use of disguises as Palestinian refugees was justified in this case will continue to be a topic of debate among military experts and policymakers.
