But Palestinian officials say the operation came at heavy cost to life, with 210 people killed including children.
Israelis were jubilant as the army said it freed Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv, in a daytime operation in the heart of Nuseirat, raiding two locations at once while under fire.
Noa Argamani (25), Almog Meir Jan (21), Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (40) were rescued in a special operation by the IDF, ISA and Israel Police from 2 separate locations in the heart of Nuseirat after being kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova music festival. — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) They are in good… pic.twitter.com/PnkjL4GRQzJune 8, 2024
The four were taken by helicopter for medical checks and reunions with loved ones after 246 days being held.
Argamani had been one of the most widely recognised hostages after being taken, like the three others, from a music festival. The video of her abduction showed her seated between two men on a motorcycle as she screamed, "Don't kill me!"
Israel's Channel 13 said Argamani was taken to the hospital where her mother is being treated for terminal brain cancer.
Defence minister Yoav Gallant described the military operation as "daring in nature, planned brilliantly, and executed in an extraordinary fashion."
Andrey Kozlov (27) was working security at the Nova music festival.— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) While ensuring the safety of the partygoers, his own safety was compromised when he was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists.Today is the day Andrey was released from captivity and can finally return to safety. pic.twitter.com/1POTYvC1SaJune 8, 2024
Spokesman Khalil Degran said the bodies of 109 Palestinians including 23 children and 11 women were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, and around 100 to Al-Awda Hospital.
Associated Press reporters saw dozens of bodies brought to Al Aqsa hospital from the Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah areas, as smoke rose in the distance and armoured vehicles rolled by.
Many Israelis are urging Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government to strike a deal to bring home the rest of the hostages.
"The horrific massacre committed today by Netanyahu and his fascist government against the Palestinian people in Gaza, which led to slaughter of 210 and more than 400 wounded so far — under the pretext of liberating those detained by the resistance — confirms what the resistance has said repeatedly: that Netanyahu doesn't plan to reach an agreement to stop the war and free the captured Israelis peacefully," said Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official now based in Lebanon.
Neighbouring Egypt condemned "with the strongest terms" Israel's attacks on the Nuseirat refugee camp, with its foreign ministry calling it a "flagrant violation of all rules of international law." Neighbouring Jordan also condemned it.
"The bloodbath must end immediately," the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on the social platform X, noting reports of civilian deaths.
Hamas took some 250 hostages during the October 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people. About half were released in a ceasefire deal in November. About 120 hostages remain, with 43 pronounced dead.
Saturday's operation brought the total number of rescued hostages to seven. Two were freed in February and one was freed in the aftermath of the October attack.
Netanyahu rushed to hospital to greet the freed hostages. But thousands of Israelis again gathered Saturday evening for the latest anti-government demonstration and calls for a ceasefire agreement.
The Netanyahu government's handling of the hostage crisis has been condemned by protesters. (AP PHOTO)
It was unclear what effect the rescue might have on apparently stalled ceasefire efforts. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to the Middle East next week, seeking a breakthrough.
International pressure is mounting on Israel to limit civilian bloodshed in its war in Gaza, which reached its eighth month on Friday with more than 36,700 Palestinians killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians.
Palestinians also face widespread hunger because fighting and Israeli restrictions have largely cut off the flow of aid.
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