Israel kills more than 200 Palestinians in Gaza 'rescue mission'

Israel announced its forces rescued four hostages on Saturday from a Gaza refugee camp in an operation which the government media office said left 210 Palestinians dead and hundreds wounded.

"The number of victims from the Israeli occupation's massacre in the Nuseirat camp has risen to 210 martyrs and more than 400 wounded," the press office said in a statement.

It came after the Israeli army announced the rescue of four Israeli captives in Nuseirat earlier Saturday in an operation that they said took place "under fire".

The army named the rescued captives Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41.

Palestinians civilians described coming under intense bombardment and heavy gunfire as Israeli forces carried out their operation.

The captives are among seven that Israeli forces have freed alive since Hamas seized 251 people in their October attack on southern Israel.

There are now 116 captives remaining in Gaza, including 41 the army says are dead. Hamas says tens of captives have been killed by Israeli strikes.

© Al-Araby Al-Jadeed