News Wrap: Israel rescues 4 hostages during massive, deadly assault on central Gaza

John Yang:

Good evening. I'm John Yang. There's jubilation in Israel tonight after the military took four hostages safely out of Central Gaza, the daylight operation was the largest rescue mission of the war so far.

Israeli army video shows some of them running to an awaiting helicopter. The four had been held since October 7, when they were kidnapped by Hamas at a music festival. They were taken to a hospital to be checked over and reunited with their families.

Orit Meir, Mother of rescued hostage: Thank you for bringing my son to me, to us. I'm so excited I could hug him today.

John Yang:

The rescue operation came amid an intense Israeli air and ground assault on the Nuseirat refugee camp, at least 210 dead Palestinians were taken to local hospitals, according to a health official.

In France for a state visit, President Biden said the United States would work to free all the remaining hostages, including eight Americans.

Russia and Ukraine exchanged more drone attacks overnight, Moscow based officials said at least 28 people were killed in the partially Russian occupied regions of Kherson and Luhansk. People searched through rubble for belongings and public events were canceled for the rest of the weekend for days of mourning.

In Normandy, France today, D-Day commemorations gave way to a wedding day. World War II veteran Harold Terrence married his sweetheart Gene Swirling. The groom is 100 years old. The bride only 96. Well wishers witnessed the Florida couple's wedding, which isn't legally binding because they're not French citizens.

On D-Day, Terrence was in Britain repairing planes returning from France so they could rejoin the battle for their wedding night, the couple was invited to the Elysee Palace state dinner with President Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron.

And the man who took one of the most iconic photos of Earth has died. Former Apollo astronaut William Anders never landed on the moon, but he was on the first manned flight to orbit it in 1968 that's when he captured the image that became a symbol of the environmental movement.

Anders died Friday when the small plane he was piloting alone crashed into the water northwest of Seattle. He was 90 years old.

Still to come on PBS News Weekend, what's behind the spike of violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and how wildfire smoke can affect your health even hundreds of miles away.