‘Innocent People Were Killed’: US Official Confirms Palestinian Civilians Left Dead
Some 274 die in hostage rescue
Although the world celebrated the Israeli operation which freed four hostages held in Gaza, that rescue killed hundreds of Palestinian civilians — including young children and women.
That Israeli forces killed innocent Palestinians was confirmed Sunday by a top US national security official.
At least 274 Palestinians, including dozens of children, were killed, and hundreds more were wounded, in the Israeli raid that rescued four hostages held by Hamas, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Sunday.
The operation in Nuseirat, a built-up refugee camp dating to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, was the largest rescue since October 7, 2023, when Hamas and other militants stormed across the border, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 250 hostage.
In the months since Israel’s military response has killed nearly 37,000 Palestinians — mostly civilians including young children and women.
“The Israeli Defense Forces have put out one number. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has put out another number. But we do know this, Dana: Innocent people were tragically killed in this operation,” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in an on-camera interview with CNN host Dana Bash. “The exact number, we don’t know, but innocent people were killed. And that is heartbreaking. That is tragic. The president himself has said in recent days that the Palestinian people are going through sheer hell in this conflict because Hamas is operating in a way that puts them in the crossfire, that holds hostages right in the heart of crowded civilian areas, that puts military emplacements right in the heart of crowded civilian areas.
“But every day that we see more innocent people lost is another horrible, awful, tragic day. You know, our hearts in the United States and across the world break for that. But there is only one answer to stop that from happening going forward, and that is a cease-fire and hostage deal that ends the military operations, brings the hostages home, and puts us in a position to give the Palestinians an opportunity for a better future for their people,” Sullivan added.
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