World leaders urge Israel to avoid 'catastrophic' Rafah operation

Israel Rescues 2 Hostages , in Overnight Raid on Rafah. NBC reports that Israel's military has announced the rescue of two hostages in an overnight operation into Rafah, where over 1 million displaced people are sheltering. . According to local officials, the Israeli raid claimed the lives of dozens of people in the refuge of Rafah. A spokesperson from the Palestinian Health Ministry said that the strikes on Rafah killed at least 67 people. . The rescue of 60-year-old Fernando Marman and 70-year-old Louis Har came amid international concerns over Israel's planned ground assault on Rafah. A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces said that the operation included a "wave of strikes" aimed at striking Hamas operatives in the area. NBC reports that the strikes sparked widespread panic in Rafah, with crowds racing to take injured loved ones, including children, to the nearby Kuwait hospital. The IDF confirmed that strikes took place in the area of Shaboura, while denying Gazan health officials' claims regarding the number of Palestinians killed in the raid. . In a separate statement, the IDF added that the two rescued men were both in good medical condition and are receiving care at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center. NBC reports that Israel's war in Gaza has already killed over 28,000 Palestinians and injured over 67,700 others. . International concern has grown over Israel's planned offensive on Rafah, where over half of Gaza's population has sought refuge after the area was declared a "safe zone."