Rutte calls rescue of four Israeli hostages a hopeful sign

Mark Rutte considers the freeing of four Israeli hostages to be "a hopeful sign," the outgoing Prime Minister wrote on X. "We continue to call on Hamas to release all hostages immediately."

On Saturday, the Israeli army reported the rescue of four hostages from Hamas in the middle of the Gaza Strip. At least 55 Palestinians were killed in the army operation, according to Palestinian medical rescue services.

"An agreement is still urgently needed so that all hostages are released, and humanitarian aid reaches the people of Gaza," said Rutte. It is estimated that around 120 Israeli hostages are still trapped in the Gaza Strip.

According to the Israeli army, the four hostages were rescued at two different locations in or around Nuseirat southwest of Gaza City in a major operation that had been prepared for weeks against Hamas. The operation was carried out with heavy bombing in support of ground troops, the armed forces said. Many casualties from the Israeli attacks have been reported in Nuseirat and the surrounding area. The Hamas movement spoke of "an unprecedentedly cruel and barbaric attack." According to Palestinian health services, at least 50 people have been killed.

The four hostages are Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv, and they are aged 21 to 40. According to reports from Israeli media, they are apparently in good health. They were taken to a hospital for examination.

Hamas kidnapped more than 250 people in October and took them to the Gaza Strip. Some were released during a truce last year, and some are believed to be no longer alive. The Israeli army has also previously found remains of hostages in the Gaza Strip. According to estimates, Hamas is still holding 120 people as hostages.

An Israeli minister in the war cabinet, Benny Gantz, has canceled a planned speech on Saturday due to the news of the rescue and will deliver his speech later. According to Israeli media, he planned to announce that he was resigning from the Cabinet out of dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies. His possible departure does not endanger Netanyahu's majority in parliament.