The Al Qasam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamist group Hamas, announced the death of three hostages, one of whom held North American citizenship, during a rescue operation in Gaza that freed four captives. The group did not disclose the identities of the deceased or provide further details. The deaths occurred during a military operation deployed by Israel in the Nuseirat refugee camp, resulting in the deaths of over 270 Palestinians and injuries to nearly 680 others, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
In a video released by Al Qasam, they reiterated their demand for the release of their prisoners in exchange for the hostages they hold. The Israeli Army confirmed carrying out attacks on military targets to achieve the success of the rescue operation. Among the rescued hostages were Noah Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv, who had been captive for 246 days.
Since the war began, Israel and Hamas have only reached a one-week truce agreement in late November, which resulted in the release of 105 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. Other hostages have been released or rescued by both sides, with many still remaining in captivity. The ongoing conflict continues to result in casualties and challenges for both sides.