U.S. intelligence aided Israeli hostage rescue in Gaza | EUROtoday

That staff, composed of particular operations and intelligence personnel understanding of the embassy in Jerusalem, has been in Israel for the reason that struggle started in October. Since then, it has shared with Israeli counterparts details about hostages’ potential location gleaned from U.S. drone surveillance over Gaza, communications intercepts and different sources, mentioned the individuals conversant in the matter.

“The United States is supporting all efforts to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas, including American citizens,” nationwide safety adviser Jake Sullivan mentioned in a press release. He famous this work consists of ongoing negotiations and “other means.”

Axios and the New York Times additionally reported on U.S. involvement within the rescue operation.

Hamas and different militants took roughly 250 hostages amid their brazen cross-border assault into Israel on Oct. 7, a grotesque assault that left 1,200 lifeless. At least 112 individuals have been freed, both as a part of a negotiated deal between Israel and Hamas late final 12 months or by means of coordinated rescue operations.

Of the hostages who stay in Gaza, fewer than 80 are believed to be alive. Eight American residents are regarded as amongst these nonetheless in captivity, together with the stays of three who’re lifeless.

Saturday’s daytime mission was a part of a broader Israeli operation in central Gaza that native well being authorities mentioned left not less than 210 Palestinians lifeless. Israeli officers described the rescue operation as weeks within the making and enabled by “precise intelligence.” Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, mentioned two buildings had been focused and that the personnel concerned took fireplace.

Washington maintains what one U.S. official characterised Saturday as a “very deep partnership” with Israel on its hostage-rescue efforts.

Days after the Gaza struggle started, the Pentagon acknowledged {that a} “small number” of U.S. navy personnel had been on the embassy in Jerusalem to help the Israeli authorities by means of planning and intelligence help.

U.S. intelligence analysts are also serving to Israeli officers in a few of their work to map out the intensive community of tunnels that Hamas has constructed beneath Gaza, contributing highly effective analytic applied sciences that fuse fragments of knowledge, in accordance with officers with information of that work.

U.S. protection officers have mentioned that whereas American navy personnel have been advising the Israelis, they haven’t accompanied Israel’s navy on any missions within the Gaza Strip. President Biden has been adamant that he is not going to put American “boots on the ground” there.

Shane Harris contributed to this report.