Brand New Bodycam Footage Reveals Heart-Stopping Rescue of Hamas Hostages | WATCH
Today, two years ago, Fernando Marman and Luis Har were rescued from Hamas captivity in a special operation by Shayetet 13. The newly released video from the commandos' body cameras shows the moments after the rescue and the emotional meeting of the freed hostages with IDF forces.
Two years after the dramatic hostage rescue operation "Golden Hand," new footage has been released from the body cameras of Shayetet 13 commandos, documenting the moments of departure from the Gaza Strip back to Israel, shortly after the rescue of hostages Luis Har and Fernando Marman.
Operation "Golden Hand" was a joint operation by the IDF, Shin Bet, and Yamam (Israel's National Counter-Terrorism Unit), designed to rescue Fernando Marman and Luis Har from the Rafah refugee camp. The two were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak during the terror attack on October 7, 2023, and were held in an apartment on the second floor of a building in the heart of Rafah.
About a month before the operation, forces began preparations and dedicated training, but only on February 12 did the intelligence and operational conditions mature to allow its execution. Yamam forces arrived secretly to the heart of Rafah, passed three Hamas battalions, and reached the building where the hostages were held.
The breach was carried out using a specialized explosive charge, and within seconds, the three terrorists guarding the hostages were eliminated. Two fighters wrapped the hostages with their bodies to protect them from fire, while the rest of the force cleared the floor and removed the threat. The hostages were lowered using rappelling ropes directly from the second floor, to avoid passing through the first floor where additional risk existed.
During the rescue, terrorists fired at the forces, but Yamam snipers and the Air Force provided close cover. Simultaneously, the Air Force attacked Hamas command posts and headquarters in the area, aiming to disrupt their ability to build situational awareness and send reinforcements. An attempt by terrorists to chase the force using vehicles was thwarted from the air.
Approximately a thousand fighters and soldiers took part in the operation, which lasted about an hour. Present in the operational command post were senior security officials including the head of Shin Bet, the Chief of Staff, the Police Commissioner, the head of Military Intelligence, and the Commander of the Air Force.
After the rescue, the two were transferred to a helicopter and evacuated to Israel, where they were transferred for medical examinations at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer. The hospital reported at the time that their condition was good, and the two were released after two days to their homes.
The newly released footage presents for the first time the complex moments of travel in the Strip territory, the operational alertness after the breach, and the sense of relief upon crossing back into Israeli territory.
Security officials note that this was one of the most complex and precise rescue operations carried out during the war, one that combined precise intelligence, operational daring, and close cooperation between all branches.