Anger grows at death toll during mission to rescue Israeli hostages

BENJAMIN Netanyahu's government was facing tough questions after it was claimed more captives were killed as special forces fought to free four hostages in Gaza.

- Mark Reynolds

The prime minister paid tribute yesterday to forces who acted "creatively and bravely" in bringing home Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrei Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41.

But as Israel celebrated, a Hamas video claimed - without giving proof - that as well as 274 Palestinians, three unnamed captives, including a US citizen, had died during Saturday's brutal firefight in the Nuseirat area of central Gaza.

Israel's military dismissed the claims as propaganda, adding: "We can't trust anything Hamas is saying.".

Mr Netanyahu was dealt another blow as his war cabinet minister Benny Gantz quit the temporary government.

He described the move as a "complex and painful decision" to make but said he felt Mr Netanyahu was "preventing real victory" over Hamas and called for an election date and put return of the hostages above political survival.

Mr Netanyahu hit back saying "this is not time to abandon the front" but he is left more reliant on far right ministers.