tv BBC News Now BBCNEWS February 12, 2024 12:00pm-12:31pm GMT
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the marathon world record holder, kelvin kiptum, has been killed in a car accident. hello, welcome to bbc news now, three hours of fast—moving news, interviews and reaction. the israeli military has rescued two of the hostages abducted by hamas, during a raid in the gaza strip. the release of the hostages was announced shortly after israel carried out an intense aerial bombardment of the southern city of rafah. this was the scene after those israeli strikes this morning. a spokesman for the hamas—run health ministry says at least 67 palestinians were killed. a doctor at a nearby hospital said it was unable to cope with the number of injured. helicopters and boats were also involved in the attack.
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the two israeli hostages, fernando marman and louis har, seen here reunited with their families , are said to be in good condition. it's thought to be only the second time israel has carried out a successful military operation to rescue hostages. the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu said �*only continued military pressure�* will free more hostages. israel's offensive in rafah looks set to continue. our international editorjeremy bowen examines whether this is to become the next battle zone in gaza. translation: where will they take us? - what what they do with us? rafah is the most southerly town in gaza, and it's the place where most of the population of gaza has been fleeing to as the israelis have advanced from the north. you can see the influx of people from the satellite pictures. now, you can see the difference.
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all those little markings are tents. there are about 1.4 million people estimated to be in rafah. that is five times its usual population. they thought they might be safer there, but now israel says they're going to attack. translation: we have - instructed the army to prepare the operation in rafah. the israelis say moving in on a rafah is a military necessity in pursuit of what the prime minister calls total victory against hamas. they want to get into those tunnels. translation: we are going to get in, one metre after another, _ one tunnel after another. and as well as that, they want to get more than 100 israeli hostages back. so many people have ended up in rafah because they have been pushed down from the north and there is nowhere else for them to go. they have reached the border. they are living in terrible conditions there, exhausted after four months of war. translation: we hear- that the israelis are planning an military operation in the south. where will they take us? the israelis say that they can open a safe passage for civilians in rafah, but the man who heads the un agency that looks
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after palestinian refugees does not believe them. we haven't seen any safe haven since the beginning of the war. there is nothing safe in gaza. the problem with israel's argument is a safe passage to where? north of them, there is the devastation of war and the israeli army. south of them, there is the closed egyptian border. let's speak to our international editor, jeremy bowen. we editor, jeremy bowen. have two israeli hostages rt and we have two israeli hostages rescued and 67 palestinians killed, it will benjamin netanyahu see this latest offence a success? to benjamin netanyahu see this latest offence a success?— offence a success? to start with, the israelis _ offence a success? to start with, the israelis are _ offence a success? to start with, the israelis are saying _ offence a success? to start with, the israelis are saying this - offence a success? to start with, the israelis are saying this is - offence a success? to start with, the israelis are saying this is not| the israelis are saying this is not the israelis are saying this is not the big offensive people have been talking about. the issues, as i was saying, the issue is that they want to go down and as they would say, go after hamas in that area. but there
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are these roughly 1.5 million civilians who are also there. so this was a raid to get those hostages out and the army, the israeli army has been saying they have known about their whereabouts for some time and they have been planning this. they decided to go in under a very heavy bombardment and subsequently, as they pulled out, and even heavy bombardment which is why so many palestinians were killed, but it is not the big raid. of course, for mr netanyahu, it is vindication, from his point of view, which he says to get hostages out it is not about doing deals with the terrorists of hamas, it is about showing that israel is strong and remorseless and that hamas will therefore be forced to give up these people. we therefore be forced to give up these --eole. ~ therefore be forced to give up these neale, ~ therefore be forced to give up these --eole. ~ therefore be forced to give up these n-eole. ~ ., people. we saw in your report that the pepulation _ people. we saw in your report that the population of— people. we saw in your report that the population of rafah _ people. we saw in your report that the population of rafah has - people. we saw in your report that l the population of rafah has swelled, people seeking safety are heading
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there, but they face further attacks, what can they do now? i think the people in rafah at the moment, there is nothing they can do. when they talk in terms of, we sit here waiting for our fate, we sit here waiting for our fate, we sit here waiting for our fate, we sit here waiting for death as they have ended up in rafah because they have ended up in rafah because they have run out of places to hide. they have run out of places to hide. they have gone right down to the south of gaza and the very heavily defended egyptian border is a hard stop for them. the americans are putting a lot of pressure on israel if they are going to attack in a big way, rafah, i mean a really big way, taking days or weeks is to move those people out. there is some theories they may be moved back to theories they may be moved back to the north of gaza, which, by the way, is a wasteland. i mean, moving
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1.5 million people in short order? you know, ithink 1.5 million people in short order? you know, i think it is a lot of magical thinking in those theories. i don't see anywhere in gaza as safe. ~ ., , i don't see anywhere in gaza as safe. ~ . , , ., ., i don't see anywhere in gaza as safe. ~ . , , . ., 4' safe. what is the situation like that ou safe. what is the situation like that you are — safe. what is the situation like that you are hearing _ safe. what is the situation like that you are hearing from - safe. what is the situation like i that you are hearing from people safe. what is the situation like - that you are hearing from people in rafah at the moment? we will be speaking to someone from unicef who is in rafah, but is the situation is dire as we are hearing? i is in rafah, but is the situation is dire as we are hearing?— dire as we are hearing? i think it is desperate. — dire as we are hearing? i think it is desperate, it _ dire as we are hearing? i think it is desperate, it is _ dire as we are hearing? i think it is desperate, it is absolutely - is desperate, it is absolutely desperate. these are people, don't forget, many of whom have lost everything. their homes further north are in ruins, many have lost members of theirfamily, north are in ruins, many have lost members of their family, sometimes in large numbers, they haven't eaten properly in a long time. shortages of water, living outdoors... it is, it's not like they are on a camping holiday there, they are going through massive trauma that is going
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to affect the way they think and look at life, i think, until the day that they die. look at life, i think, untilthe day that they die-— look at life, i think, untilthe day that they die. look at life, i think, untilthe day that the die. , , �* ., that they die. 0k, jeremy bowen, we believe it there _ that they die. 0k, jeremy bowen, we believe it there for _ that they die. 0k, jeremy bowen, we believe it there for now. _ that they die. 0k, jeremy bowen, we believe it there for now. you - that they die. 0k, jeremy bowen, we believe it there for now. you very - believe it there for now. you very much forjoining us. as we've been reporting, the hamas—run health ministry says at least 67 people died in a barrage of israeli air strikes. this palestinian described what happened during the israeli bombardment. translation: at approximately | midnight, we heard the sounds of strong explosions, as if hell had opened up on the civilians. look what happened. the israelis claim that they freed hostages from this place, but we don't know what happened. we were sleeping in our homes and we don't know anything. we didn't see any hostages here, but we saw a helicopter landing. there was heavy shooting, as if it was a very big battle.
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the world has turned into hell for the lives of civilians. well, the uk foreign secretary lord cameron has warned against a planned israeli invasion of rafah, which is providing refuge to more than half of gaza's 2.3 million population. we are very concerned about what is happening in rafah. the people there, many of them have moved four, five, six times before getting there. really, we think it is impossible to see how you can fight a war amongst these people, there is nowhere for them to go. they cannot go south into egypt and they cannot go south into egypt and they cannot go north back to their homes because many of them have been destroyed. we are worried about the situation and we want israel to stop and think seriously before it takes any further action. what we want is a pause in the fighting and we want that pose to lead to a sustainable ceasefire without a return to
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further fighting. ceasefire without a return to furtherfighting. that ceasefire without a return to further fighting. that is what should happen now. we need to get the hostages out, including the british nationals and we need to get the aid in. the best way to do that is stop the fighting now and turn it into a permanent, sustainable ceasefire. and this bombardment follows israel saying two hostages held by hamas have been rescued in a raid in rafah in southern gaza. edan begerano is a relative of the two hostages rescued. let's hear him after he reunited with them at the hospital. we were a bit shocked. we haven't expected it. we saw them. the heart was beating on 200 maybe, maybe more. a lot of tears, hugs, not many words, just being together, surrounded by the family and surrounded by our beloved people that were without us for so long, more than four months. we were so happy to see them. i don't know what is the real situation that they are.
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mentally, they look ok, physically, they look ok, but i am sure we are going to have ups and downs in the coming days and weeks and we really hope for good and wish them good health. let's speak to hamish young who is the senior emergency coordinator for unicef gaza — hejoins me from rafah. thanks so much for your time, we do appreciate it on bbc news. can you tell me what it was like in rafah last night? tell me what it was like in rafah last niuht? ., ., tell me what it was like in rafah last night?— last night? thank you. i can 'ust verify what �* last night? thank you. i can 'ust verify what somebody �* last night? thank you. i can 'ust verify what somebody has h last night? thank you. i can just - verify what somebody has previously said. it was horrendous, but the bombardment started around midnight, perhaps a bit before that and it was relentless. certainly nobody in rafah got any sleep last night. the
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bombardment was all over rafah and i believe some of it was a distraction from the actual operation that went on, so it was going on everywhere. our building was shaking all night but we have the privilege to live in a good building. i can only imagine what it was like for the people, the vast majority are living in tents and makeshift shelters. yes, it was very... it was horrendous. you have already been given the numbers, we have got the same, around 70 casualties, 1a residential buildings destroyed. if i can, it is important to get beyond those numbers because in situations like this, we have become overwhelmed by the numbers and we have become somehow immune to them. this morning when i got into this makeshift facility where we are now, this is the coordinated operation centre where the un and ngos work. one of my colleagues,
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palestinian colleagues from one of the organ of organisations was trying to relate what last night was like for him. hejust broke down, telling us how he was lying under his bed with two young granddaughters clinging to him. both of them screaming hysterically throughout the night. with every blast that went off. you know, children should not have to suffer this, children should not have to go through this. thousands of israeli children have been traumatised by what happened on the 7th of october. now all the children of gaza are terribly traumatised by everything thatis terribly traumatised by everything that is going on now. we terribly traumatised by everything that is going on now.— terribly traumatised by everything that is going on now. we are seeing ictures of that is going on now. we are seeing pictures of the _ that is going on now. we are seeing pictures of the camps _ that is going on now. we are seeing pictures of the camps in _ that is going on now. we are seeing pictures of the camps in rafah - that is going on now. we are seeing pictures of the camps in rafah and l pictures of the camps in rafah and as we have been saying, so many people fled there for safety, what is the situation like on the ground?
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the situation on the ground in rafah is already catastrophic. people need to realise that it's not going to be made catastrophic by a full ground invention, it already is catastrophic. there is barely enough food for everyone to eat, there is not enough water, not enough medical services or medicines. all children have been out of school since the beginning of october. there is massive overcrowding with hundreds and thousands of children and their families living in appalling conditions. the lucky ones are in tents, many are living in makeshift shelters and it is really cold here at night. i can't imagine what it's like, you know, trying to take care of small children out there. you know, there is relief coming in, organisations like unicef and many other good organisations are doing their best. we have brought in hundreds and thousands of pieces of
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warm clothing, for examples. we are bringing in medical supplies and vaccines, the w h 0 are doing a lot and the world food programme is bringing infood. but and the world food programme is bringing in food. but they are so many obstacles. the security stitching makes it difficult to work and there are many, many bureaucratic instructions put in our way. there is limitations on the trucks, limitations on our movement and there are limitations at every step of the way that make it a very, very difficult humanitarian organisations to work, making it difficult for us to reach and take care of children, who are in dire need. ., , care of children, who are in dire need. . , ., ., . need. hamish young, from unicef in rafah, thank— need. hamish young, from unicef in rafah, thank you _ need. hamish young, from unicef in rafah, thank you very _ need. hamish young, from unicef in rafah, thank you very much. - and you can watch and follow the story on the bbc news website or bbc news app. 0ur live page will keep you updated with the latest developments as they happen — bbc.com/news or the bbc news app.
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around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news. let's look at some other stories making news here in the uk. executives at water companies could lose their bonuses in future if the firm they run causes environmental damage — like letting illegal sewage—spills pollute a beach or river. environment secretary stephen barclay said it was time water company bosses "took responsibility". campaigners and opposition parties said they had been calling for restrictions on water boss bonuses for some time. a key parliamentary committee says the government's plan to send some asylum seekers to rwanda is "fundamentally incompatible" with the uk's human rights safeguards. thejoint committee on human rights said the legislation jeopardised the uk's international reputation. the bill will be debated in detail by the house of lords this week and faces substantial opposition. labour has defended standing by its candidate in the rochdale by—election — despite his remarks about israel.
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azhar ali said sorry for reportedly saying the country had allowed the 7th of october attacks to go ahead — so it could do whatever it wanted in response. you're live with bbc news. the men's world marathon record holder, kelvin kiptum, has been killed in a car accident. the kenyan athlete died along with his coach when their vehicle came off the road in western kenya late on sunday. kiptum set the world record in the chicago marathon last year, with a winning time of hours and 35 seconds. the president of world athletics, sebastian coe, described him as "an incredible athlete who's left an incredible legacy". a short while ago, jackson tuwei, president of athletics kenya, gave this update. at the point of accident... ..kelvin lost control of the vehicle and veered off the road
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and entered into a ditch. he drove through that ditch for 60 metres before hitting a big tree. and that is, i believe, what caused this tragedy we are talking about. as a result, he, kiptum and the coach died on the spot while the lady escaped with serious injuries and was rushed to hospital for treatment, where she is still there. 0ur bbc africa sports correspondent celestine karoney interviewed him after his record breaking marathon in chicago.
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to beat a world record, it's so hard. you have to work hard, and that has been a long journey for me. the chicago race is one of the six major marathons in the world. but kiptum almost didn't make it into the starting line. at the last stages, it was my finishing of training. i was a little bit sick — groin injury and a little bit of malaria. live now to nairobi with our bbc africa sports correspondent celestine karoney. you interviewed him a year ago, what was he like? i you interviewed him a year ago, what was he like?— was he like? i remember asking him the question. _ was he like? i remember asking him the question, how _ was he like? i remember asking him the question, how do _ was he like? i remember asking him the question, how do you _ was he like? i remember asking him the question, how do you describe i the question, how do you describe yourself and he told me, i am jovial and hard—working. they really summed up and hard—working. they really summed up the man who was very softly spoken and he was feeling
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uncomfortable because there was a lot of celebrations around his new world record, he seemed very shy and he just wanted it to himself. world record, he seemed very shy and hejust wanted it to himself. like many kenyan athletes he wasn't very outspoken and that victory in chicago that catapulted him to the top of long—distance running in the marathon, we have never seen anything like that in athletics. almost coming out of the blue to break a world record after winning his first marathon. irate break a world record after winning his first marathon.— his first marathon. we have been heafina his first marathon. we have been hearing that _ his first marathon. we have been hearing that in _ his first marathon. we have been hearing that in his _ his first marathon. we have been hearing that in his first _ hearing that in his first competition he had to borrow shoes to run because he couldn't afford to buy any of his own?— to run because he couldn't afford to buy any of his own? yes, so in 2022 he ran his — buy any of his own? yes, so in 2022 he ran his first _ buy any of his own? yes, so in 2022 he ran his first marathon _ buy any of his own? yes, so in 2022 he ran his first marathon in - he ran his first marathon in valencia and he won. but for years before that in 2018 he had to borrow shoes because he couldn't afford a pair of shoes so he could run in kenyan. that coach who passed away
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with him in that tragic accident was telling me that kiptum didn't want to run the marathon because he was afraid of going the longer distances and he kept running the half marathon. it was his coach that convinced him to make the leap to run the full marathon, which he finally did in 2022. they had this personal bond, this personal relationship because the coach had been training as an athlete in the area where kiptum comes from, and it is known for having many international athletes who train there. they had this bond when kiptum was growing up until kiptum became an athlete and became his protege. it became an athlete and became his roteue. , ., ., protege. it is worth pointing out he was a man in _ protege. it is worth pointing out he was a man in his _ protege. it is worth pointing out he was a man in his absolute - protege. it is worth pointing out he was a man in his absolute prime, l protege. it is worth pointing out he l was a man in his absolute prime, he was a man in his absolute prime, he was going to be bought running more marathons and potentially breaking all records? , marathons and potentially breaking allrecords? , , all records? yes, the canyons, the shock is palpable. _ all records? yes, the canyons, the shock is palpable. a _ all records? yes, the canyons, the shock is palpable. a lot _ all records? yes, the canyons, the shock is palpable. a lot of - all records? yes, the canyons, the shock is palpable. a lot of them i shock is palpable. a lot of them have seen in kiptum, this break—out
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star the country hadn't seen for a long time. he looked like the man he would have taken quini in athletics will be on there it is. they are used to stars, but for kiptum, there was something around him and a lot of people described him as a fearless runner. they thought this could be the man to run the marathon in an official race. the man with two 0lympic in an official race. the man with two olympic gold medals in the marathon ran the marathon under two hours but it was in a controlled environment, so does not stand. a lot of kenyan saw him as the next elliot kear trigger, because he is now 38 and ageing and that is why there is shock and disbelief. a young, promising career cut too soon. ~ , y young, promising career cut too soon. ~ y . ~ young, promising career cut too soon. , ., ~ young, promising career cut too soon. , . ~ y soon. absolutely, thank you very much for speaking _ soon. absolutely, thank you very much for speaking to _ soon. absolutely, thank you very much for speaking to us. - the second and third largest political parties in pakistan have confirmed that they are in talks about whether to form a coalition government, after the general election provided no clear winner.
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the move has angered supporters of the jailed former prime minister, imran khan, who have been protesting against the results — calling them �*rigged'. independent parliamentary candidates affiliated with mr khan's party, won the most seats — and courts are now hearing their legal challenges. let's speak to the bbc urdu correspondent farhat javed who is in islamabad. does this latest development means we are any closer to some kind of resolution on this?— resolution on this? yes, as you mentioned _ resolution on this? yes, as you mentioned pakistan _ resolution on this? yes, as you mentioned pakistan has - resolution on this? yes, as you mentioned pakistan has a - resolution on this? yes, as you - mentioned pakistan has a fragmented mandate after the poll of february the 8th and no party has the majority to form a government. it seems pakistan's second and political blocs have agreed to cooperate and discuss options further. this could mean on agreeing a power—sharing formula, which means it would decide he would be the prime minister and he would get the
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seat of president, speaker, deputy speaker in the next few months. at the same time, there are these two parties and they are talking to each other and there are hints they are trying to talk with the independent candidates and make them part of their group. on these independent candidates are the ones which were backed by imran khan and they have won most of the seats. many of those who have won the seats they not only celebrating their victory but they are also protesting for their fellow candidates, who have been defeated in this poll and they said that there was rigging during the counting of these polls and that is the reason we saw some protests as well yesterday across the country. there are some reports of the protesters in western provinces today, but they have also reached the courts and today, the high court has referred the case to the election commission of pakistan seeking answers on several questions that have been raised by the
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candidates of imran khan's back party, who say they had actually won the election but there was some rigging, alleged rigging during the counting. rigging, alleged rigging during the countinu. , , , ., , counting. very briefly, what is the feelin: counting. very briefly, what is the feeling you _ counting. very briefly, what is the feeling you are — counting. very briefly, what is the feeling you are getting _ counting. very briefly, what is the feeling you are getting from - counting. very briefly, what is the l feeling you are getting from people you have spoken to about this? irate you have spoken to about this? we have you have spoken to about this? - have spoken to not only the candidates who think they had won the selection but later on declared as the defeated run. we have also spoken to the representatives of the different political parties who are doing a negotiation with each other. for example, one party says there doors open for every political party when i asked them if they would sit with imran khan's bti. but imran sharif, they are reaching out to different political parties. they
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have reached out to karachi which had 17 seats in the election but they have reached the tpi and there will be some meetings to decide the options they have. —— ppi. the candidates are still angry and they want justice and candidates are still angry and they wantjustice and they want candidates are still angry and they want justice and they want their seat back, which they think they have one. ., ., seat back, which they think they have one. ., ~ ,, , . stay with us here on bbc news. hello again. showers towards the north—west of the uk but it is feeling rather springlike with blue skies, some sunshine and snowdrops in bedfordshire and it is a largely dry day across most of wales although we could see mcleod develop towards the
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south—west. today is the best day of the week for most in terms of sunshine amounts. from mid week it is set to turn wetter and the lactic system sweeping in from the west with mild there. temperatures marked in blue at the moment close to the seasonal average and then we get the south—westerly is drawing in the very mild air, temperatures are set to rise, particularly on wednesday and thursday. back to today and you can see this feature across western scotland running west to east bringing increased amounts of showers as we head through the afternoon. some of the showers are wintry over the tops of the hills and showers for northern ireland, perhaps north—west england. elsewhere, it is dry and there will be more sunny spells around. just the cloud amounts increasing towards the cloud amounts increasing towards the south—west of england by the end of the day. temperature is more or less where they should be for this time of year. wintry showers across parts of scotland as we head through tonight and there will be more cloud spreading in from the south—west and
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clearer spells here and there. temperatures a little higher across most of southern england but still a touch of frost from northern england northwards. as we head through tuesday, this area of low pressure is going to be pushing in from the south—west and that is going to change the weather, dragging in the mail feeling change the weather, dragging in the mailfeeling air but change the weather, dragging in the mail feeling air but the cloud amounts will increase and the winds are set to pick up south—westerly sand there will be outbreaks of rain, possibly heavy downpours at times. from southern scotland northwards, expecting a largely dry day, watch out for a few wintry showers over the tops of the hills. colder air hanging on in northern scotland where it is windy but turning milder towards the south. these areas of low pressure set to send more front spinning in as we had to wednesday, so wednesday will be windy and the westerlies picking up be windy and the westerlies picking up again and there will be more pics of rain moving across parts of scotland and perhaps turning to snow where it meets the colder feeling air. a slice of sunshine across central areas and temperature
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for the israeli prime minister, mr netanyahu, this is something of a vindication for his point of view, which is to get the hostages back, israel has to use force. the marathon world record holder, kelvin kiptum, has been killed in a car accident. in the uk, two new drugs to slow the progress of alzheimers could be licensed within months. and the kansas city chiefs win the super bowl after beating the san francisco 49ers byjust three points. let's return to our top story, as the israeli military has rescued two of the hostages abducted by hamas during a raid in the gaza strip. the release of the hostages was announced shortly after israel carried out an intense aerial bombardment of the southern city of rafah.
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