Middle East conflict live updates: Israel rescues two hostages amid strikes on Rafah

The two hostages, Fernando Simon Marman, 60, and Luis Har, 70, both dual Israeli-Argentinian citizens, were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak on Oct. 7. Israel’s military said both were in “good medical condition” and were taken for further medical examination in Israel.

Hamas condemned Monday’s strikes as “horrific massacres against defenseless civilians.” It was not immediately possible to verify the number of casualties. Reuters reported that 37 people were killed, citing local health officials. A number of wounded people were transferred to Kuwait hospital.

President Biden is edging closer to a breach with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the conflict, according to several people familiar with internal discussions. Israel’s planned military operation in Rafah is a particular flash point. Biden stressed during a weekend call with Netanyahu that there should be no military operation unless there are plans in place to protect civilians in Rafah.

A $95 billion national security bill that contains aid for Ukraine and Israel is on track to pass the Senate early this week. Eighteen Republican senators joined Democrats on Sunday in voting to advance the bill, which was previously stalled by efforts to attach it to bipartisan border measures.

At least 28,176 people have been killed and 67,784 injured in Gaza since the war began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel estimates that about 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack.