As the Israel-Hamas war continues, negotiations are apparently stalled to secure the release of hostages taken by the terrorist organization, and Israeli forces continue to launch incursions in the southern Gazan town of Rafah ahead of a possible large-scale invasion.
Humanitarian aid flow resumes in Gaza: US Central Command
U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) announced Saturday that it began delivery of humanitarian assistance ashore in Gaza.
"Today, a total of approximately 492 metric tons (~1.1 million pounds) of much needed humanitarian assistance was delivered to the people of Gaza," CENTCOM said in a statement.
Humanitarian aid flow resumes in Gaza, U.S. Central Command Public Affairs said in a press release.
U.S. Central Command Public Affairs
No U.S. personnel went ashore to Gaza, according to CENTCOM.
The agency said it has so far assisted in the delivery of more than 1,573 metric tons of humanitarian aid to organizations operating on the ground in Gaza.
-ABC News' Nathan Luna
Jun 08, 2024, 6:10 PM EDT
Blinken comments on hostage rescue
Secretary of State Antony Blinken released a statement Saturday following the rescue of four Israeli hostages, welcoming their safe return.
"The United States will not rest until every hostage is returned home," he said.
Blinken also pushed for the cease-fire announced last week by President Joe Biden.
He contended would "bring relief to both the people of Gaza and the remaining hostages and their families through an immediate ceasefire that could lead to the release of all hostages, a surge of humanitarian assistance, Gaza’s reconstruction, and an enduring end to the war."
"The only thing standing in the way of achieving this ceasefire is Hamas. It is time for them to accept the deal," he said.
A U.S. defense official provided ABC News with some more details about the operation.
The official said the recently constructed JLOTS pier, which is used for transporting humanitarian supplies, was not used in the operation.
"An area south of the facility was used to safely return the hostages to Israel. Any such claim to the contrary is false," the official said.
-ABC News' Nathan Luna
Jun 08, 2024, 2:15 PM EDT
Netanyahu says Israel will 'do whatever it takes' to rescue hostages
After meeting with rescued hostages and their families, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the rescue operation "remarkable" and told reporters they will do "whatever it takes" to get the hostages back.
"We're committed to getting the release of all the hostages, and we expect Hamas to release them all — but if they don't, we'll do whatever it takes to get them all back home. Hamas is committing war crimes every day, including the holding of these hostage.s. Our soldiers are performing in the most valiant and moral way to end this war with a victory against these killers and against these kidnappers, and we shall prevail," Netanyahu said.
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
Noa Argamani, Almog Meir, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv are shown in these undated file photos.
Hostages Families Forum(3), Shlomi Ziv
Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces said the hostages were being held in civilian populated areas, without any way to reach them but go through Gaza civilians, IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters. Three male hostages were held together in an apartment and a fourth female hostage was held in another apartment just over 650 feet away, Hagari said.
At least 150 Palestinians were killed in Israeli raids on Saturday, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said.
A United States official provided ABC News with more details about the rescue efforts, noting that the U.S. has been providing regular intelligence sharing and expertise on hostage recovery efforts since Oct. 7.
The official stressed there were no American boots on the ground as part of this effort.
-ABC News' Dana Savir, Bruno Nota and Molly Nagle
Jun 08, 2024, 11:52 AM EDT
Biden, Macron welcome rescue of hostages
President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the rescue of the hostages at a press briefing Saturday.
Biden welcomed the safe return of four hostages from Gaza, pledging that the United States will not stop working until all hostages are home.
"I want to echo President Macron’s comments welcoming the safe rescue of four hostages that were returned to their families in Israel. We won't stop working until all the hostages come home and a ceasefire is reached. That is essential to happen,” Biden said.
President Macron spoke before President Biden, also celebrating the news.
“In Gaza, we want to attain the immediate liberation of hostages and we can only welcome the liberation of four hostages by the Israeli army. We want to achieve the immediate ceasefire and open up the prospect of a political solution which is the only one that can bring about a fair and lasting peace and meet the security of concerns of both people,” Macron said.
“And that is why we are supporting the comprehensive proposal of the United States of America,” he added, calling on Israel to do more to assist humanitarian aid to Rafah, calling the situation “unacceptable.”
