According to American and Israeli officials announcing the assistance, the United States provided intelligence on the hostages before Israel’s successful rescue operation on Saturday.
A team of US hostage rescue officials stationed in Israel supported the Israeli military’s efforts to rescue the four hostages by providing intelligence and other logistical support, a US official said when asked. speak without specifying the source to discuss sensitive activities.
According to a senior Israeli defense official, intelligence collection and analysis teams from the US and UK were present in Israel throughout the war, assisting Israeli intelligence in collecting and analyzing information related to the attacks. hostages, some of whom are citizens of both countries. efforts to search and rescue hostages.
Two Israeli intelligence officials said American military officials in Israel provided some intelligence about the hostages rescued on Saturday.
Speaking in Paris after meeting with France’s Emmanuel Macron, President Biden said he welcomed “the safe release of the four hostages who were returned to their families in Israel. We will not stop working until all the hostages go home and there is a ceasefire, and that is what is needed.”
The Pentagon and CIA provided information gathered from drone flights over Gaza, communications intercepts and other sources about the hostages’ possible locations. Israeli officials said that while Israel has its own intelligence, the US and UK can provide intelligence from the air and cyberspace that Israel cannot collect on its own.
Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor, celebrated the rescue and glanced at American assistance.
“The United States is supporting all efforts to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas, including American citizens,” Sullivan said in a statement. “This includes through ongoing negotiations or other means.”
Mr. Sullivan added that the ceasefire proposal currently being discussed by negotiators from Hamas, Israel, Egypt, Qatar and the United States would be a way to bring the remaining hostages home.
“The hostage release and ceasefire agreement currently under discussion will ensure the release of all remaining hostages along with security guarantees for Israel and relief for innocent civilians in Gaza,” he said.
US officials said their intelligence support to Israel focused on the location of the hostages and information about senior Hamas leadership. Generally, this is because American officials believe that the best way to convince Israel to end the war is to take back the hostages and capture or kill top Hamas leaders.
Israeli officials said neither the American nor British teams were involved in planning or carrying out military operations to rescue the hostages. The Israelis, who are experts at rescuing hostages, will not need much assistance in tactical planning. But American and Israeli officials said the outside intelligence provided added value.
