Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) argued that the recent hostage rescue in Gaza, where four Israelis were recovered, “would never have happened” if a ceasefire had been in effect.
Barr praised Israel’s efforts in the operation and criticized “far-left anti-Semitic” voices who have been calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
“This good news would never have happened with a ceasefire,” Barr he said in a Saturday morning post on social media platform in Gaza. The operation must continue until all hostages are rescued or recovered.”
The Israeli military said on Saturday that it, along with two other entities – the Israel Police and the Israel Securities Authority – rescued four hostages in a special operation at two locations in central Gaza.
All four rescued hostages were kidnapped by the Palestinian militant group Hamas from the Nova music festival, according to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The Israeli military said the recovered hostages were in “good” medical condition and were transferred to a medical center for further examination.
Pro-Palestinian supporters have been calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war for months, pointing to the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza and the general destruction of the enclave due to Israel’s continued bombing.
President Biden last week shared a three-step proposal led by Israel that included a six-week ceasefire. The proposal, if accepted by all parties, would lead to the withdrawal of the IDF from the populated areas of Gaza and the release of all hostages. The plan, although still being deliberated by all parties, has met with some resistance from US adversaries Russia and China at the United Nations, with Moscow asking for changes to the resolution.
The war began after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, which left almost 1,200 people dead and saw the Palestinian militant group take more than 200 people hostage.
Israeli forces retaliated with a ground and air campaign, now in its eighth month, that has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The death count does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
