The Israeli army has freed four hostages held by Hamas in an operation in the center of the Gaza Strip. The IDF made this known, specifying that they are Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv. The four were kidnapped on October 7 during the Hamas attack on the Supernova music festival. The operation was conducted by the IDF with the Shin Bet and the Israeli police.
Upon initial medical evaluation, the medical condition of the four appears good, but they have now been taken to hospital for further checks. The operation was conducted by special forces who carried out simultaneous raids on Hamas sites in Nuseirat. In one Argamani was rescued while the other three were found in the second site, we read in the Times of Israel.
“The IDF, ISA and special forces conducted a complex, heroic operation to rescue four hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and bring them home to Israel. We will continue to fight until the 120 hostages are home.” This is what Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on X, stating that the Israelis are “overwhelmed with joy” at the release of the four hostages.
After the news of the release of the four hostages, the war cabinet minister, Benny Gantz, instead canceled this evening’s speech during which, according to all predictions, he would have announced the withdrawal of his party’s support for the Netanyahu government.
Noa, the symbolic hostage of October 7, has been freed
Noa, the 25-year-old Israeli kidnapped by Hamas during the festival and who became a symbol of October 7, then hugged her father again on the bus that took her to the Tel Hashomer hospital immediately after being freed together with the other three hostages. This is what a video posted on social media shows.
Noa was kidnapped last October at a rave in the Negev desert. The 25-year-old student had become one of the best-known faces of the crisis – which does not end today with her release, together with three other people – after the release of the video in which she was taken away by Hamas on the back seat of a motorcycle, torn from the hands of the boyfriend. A ten-second clip in which the girl is seen in tears. Noa’s mother is an oncology patient with a brain tumor. Her greatest wish in recent months has been to live long enough to see her daughter home again. Today the images of Noa’s embrace with her father Yaakov were released.
“We didn’t give you up for lost even for a moment. I don’t know if you believed it, but we believed it and I’m happy that it happened.” This is what Benjamin Netanyahu said in his phone call with the girl, which occurred shortly after her release.
“Reconnect with your family, and hug your mother too,” added the Israeli prime minister, speaking to the girl who said she was “very excited” to speak Hebrew again. “In Hebrew and at home this is important,” Netanyahu added. President Isasc Herzog also spoke to Noa, telling her that she “embraces her on behalf of the entire nation of Israel.”
