When teams of undercover Israeli commandos stormed two apartments simultaneously in Nuseirat, in the Gaza Strip, on June 8, they were unaware of one crucial factor.

At one location, three male Israeli hostages were being held in a small room. There was no light and the door was locked at all times. There were also many heavily armed Hamas terrorists on site, apparently using the apartment as a base. That critical information was not known in advance by the commandos.