Israelis briefly breathed a collective sigh of relief on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) when the military announced it had rescued four hostages who were held in the Gaza Strip for eight months after being captured in the October 7 attack led by Hamas.

The four hostages had been taken at the Nova music festival on October 7 and were rescued in an operation in the town of Nuseirat in central Gaza early Saturday. The mission left scores of Palestinians, including women and children, dead. News of the rescue raised renewed questions about the fate of those who remain in captivity and a proposed cease-fire deal.