In other war news, a hostage rescue attempt has failed, Israel reports:

Two Israel Defense Forces soldiers were seriously wounded in a failed attempt to rescue hostages held by the Hamas terror group in the Gaza Strip overnight, the army said Friday, adding that several of the hostage takers were killed.

The rescue attempt comes as the military increased its push into Hamas strongholds across the Strip amid what it said were signs the terror group’s defenses were cracking.

“The troops raided a Hamas site, killed terrorists who took part in the abduction and holding of the hostages,” said IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, speaking to the press.

The death of Sahar Baruch, a 25-year-old man who was held hostage by Hamas has been announced, although it’s not known for certain whether this was related to the failed rescue attempt. His story is heartbreaking, as are so very many:

Baruch, a Ben-Gurion University engineering student was with his grandmother, Geula Bachar, as well as his brother, Idan Baruch, 20, a soldier in the IDF’s Education Corps.

He ran back into his grandmother’s burning house to look for an inhaler for his brother.

Idan Baruch was fatally shot when he left the burning house, which he ran from because he was asthmatic and couldn’t breathe in the smoke. He and his grandmother were both killed by the terrorists, while Sahar was taken hostage to Gaza.

Hamas has issued a propaganda video purporting to show Sahar Baruch’s body. They also have said about the hostage rescue attempt:

“Today at dawn, fighters of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades thwarted an attempt by the Zionists to reach one of the hostages. A Zionist special force unit was spotted advancing toward the enemy hostage, and [the Hamas fighters] engaged in a fight with the military, causing casualties among the troops,” the Hamas terrorists said, claiming that Baruch Sahar was killed in the clash.

There is no way to tell if he died in the clash, or if so, who killed him. However, note the missing news: that some of the terrorists died in the clash as well.

I will add this, which is an apt symbol of one of Hamas’ favorite tactics: “IDF says troops found sniper rifle hidden inside large teddy bear at Gaza school.”