Operation Golden Hand: Difference between revisions

'''Operation Golden Hand''' ("יד זהב") was an [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] operation in cooperation with the [[Shin Bet]] and [[Yamam]] (Israel's National [[Counter-terrorism|Counter-Terror]] Unit, part of the [[Israeli Police]]) for the rescue of two [[Israel–Hamas war hostage crisis|hostages]] who were kidnapped to [[Rafah]] during the [[Nir Yitzhak attack]] on [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel|7 October]], 2023. The operation commenced on February 12, 2024, at 1:49 AM during combat in the Gaza Strip during the [[Israel–Hamas war]], and ended successfully with the rescue of the hostages, along with a soldier who was lightly injured during the operation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=i24NEWS |date=2024-02-12 |title=IDF rescues 2 hostages in 'daring' targeted op in Rafah. |url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel-at-war/1707714683-idf-rescues-2-hostages-during-op-in-rafah |access-date=2024-02-12 |website=I24news |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Yanko |first=Adir |last2=Ciechanover |first2=Yael |last3=Zitun |first3=Yoav |date=2024-02-12 |title=Rescued hostages say they were held by a family in Rafah and 'we were hungry' |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sku2eydj6 |access-date=2024-02-12 |work=Ynetnews |language=en}}</ref> The [[12 February 2024 Rafah strikes|coordinated early morning airstrikes]] that were used as cover for the operation reportedly caused the deaths of at least 94 Palestinians according to the [[Gaza Health Ministry]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Regan |first=Helen |date=2024-02-12 |title=Israeli airstrikes kill more than 100 in Rafah as international alarm mounts over anticipated ground offensive |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/12/middleeast/israel-airstrikes-rafah-ground-offensive-looms-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=2024-02-14 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>