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.
Hundreds killed or injured during hostage rescue, Gaza ministry says
At least 274 people were killed in central Gaza on Saturday as the Israeli military moved into the Nuseirat camp to rescue four hostages, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Sunday.
Another 698 people were injured as Israeli forces entered the refugee camp, the ministry said.
Palestinians walk on the rubble of destroyed buildings following an operations by the Israeli Special Forces in the Nuseirat camp, in the central Gaza Strip on June 8, 2024,.
Eyad Baba/AFP via Getty Images
Some of the injured were in critical condition, the ministry said.
The death toll in Gaza climbed on Saturday to 37,084 people, the ministry said. More than 84,000 others have been injured, the ministry said.
-ABC News’ Victoria Beaule and Kevin Shalvey
Jun 08, 2024, 8:00 PM EDT
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.
