An Israeli military spokesperson said Hamas made it impossible for Israeli forces to reach hostages without entering civilian areas since the group was embedded there.
Speaking on Saturday after the rescue operation in which four Israeli hostages were freed, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said the hostages had been locked in rooms of apartments in multistory buildings.
Hagari said they had been kept in two separate apartments, with Noa Argamani held in a different building around 200 meters (about 66 feet) away from the three male hostages.
The Israel Defense Forces opted for a daytime operation because of the element of surprise it would give them, he said. Israeli forces had prepared for Saturday’s hostage rescue operation by building models of the apartments, the spokesperson added.
Civilian deaths in Gaza: Hagari estimated the number of casualties from the operation in central Gaza was “under 100,” and he had no information on how many of the victims were civilians. Hagari said the IDF had come under intense fire, especially after withdrawing from the apartments. The spokesperson did not provide evidence for his claims.
At least 210 people were killed and more than 400 injured during the Israeli military operation in central Gaza, the Government Media Office in Gaza said Saturday. It did not specify how many were civilians and how many were combatants.
CNN cannot verify death tolls due to lack of international media access to the strip.
Details on raid: The first phase of Saturday’s operation saw the IDF target militant infrastructure in pre-planned strikes, Hagari said. The IDF had obtained intelligence on the location of the hostages through different avenues, according to Hagari. Hostages being held in Gaza are frequently moved to different locations.
Hagari also told journalists that similar raids had been called off at the last minute “more than three or four times” due to unfavorable conditions for Israeli special forces. Most of the other hostages still held in Gaza are not being held in conditions that would allow for similar operations, he said.
