Israeli forces rescued four hostages on Saturday who were detained by Hamas for the past eight months, saying that they are in good health.

The military said they were rescued during an operation in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip. It said that they have been taken to hospital in Israel to undergo medical checks.

An Israeli military spokesperson said at a news conference that 120 hostages remain in captivity, and that it will make utmost effort to rescue them.

Ahead of the announcement, local Palestinian media reported that the Israeli military had carried out a fierce attack on Nuseirat and elsewhere. A Palestinian news agency reported that at least 40 people died.

Local authorities in Gaza criticized the attack in a statement, saying the Israeli military carried out a barbaric and brutal aggression directly targeting civilians.