DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (NEWSNet/AP) — At least 274 Palestinians were killed in a raid by Israel that led to the rescue of four hostages held by Hamas, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Sunday.

Nearly 700 people were wounded in Saturday's raid.

The military said its forces came under heavy fire during the operation.

Scores of hostages are believed to be held in densely populated areas or inside Hamas’ labyrinth of tunnels.

The raid deep into Nuseirat was the largest rescue operation since the war began Oct. 7.

Israelis celebrated the return of Noa Argamani, 26; Almog Meir Jan, 22; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 41, after Israeli forces raided two locations.

Israel’s military said it had attacked “threats to our forces in the area,” and that a special forces officer was killed.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz said “only Israel’s enemies complained about the casualties of Hamas terrorists and their accomplices.”

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