Israeli army special forces have recovered four live hostages in Gaza. According to Kan TV, they are Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir Jan and Andrey Kozlov. Shin Bet intelligence officers and the IDF confirmed that the hostages were found in the center of the Gaza Strip. All had been kidnapped last October 7 during the Nova music festival. In a joint statement, Israeli forces explained that the hostages were rescued “from two different locations, during the operation in the heart of Nuseirat. Their medical conditions are normal and they have been transferred to Sheba-Tel Hashomer Medical Center for further medical tests. Security forces continue to use all efforts to rescue the abductees.” Netanyahu made it known that Israel “will not stop until it has completed the mission and brought all the kidnapped people home”, said the Israeli prime minister, thanking Defense Minister Yaov Gallant, Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and the Shin Bet Ronen Bar and the entire team that participated in the liberation of the hostages. «Once again, you have demonstrated that Israel does not surrender to terrorism and acts – he underlined – with boundless creativity and courage, to bring our kidnapped people home».
The soldier wounded in the hostage operation dies
The Israeli police announced the death of Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, commander of the Special Anti-Terrorism Unit, killed in the operation in Nuseirat to free the four hostages. The soldier – as military spokesman Daniel Hagari had said – was “seriously injured in the operation” which he defined as “complex, planned for several weeks, which took place under heavy enemy fire”. Taken to hospital, Zamora was pronounced dead. «The fighters of the special units – Hagari specified – operated in two different buildings and we resorted to massive fire, also from other fighters, including the Navy, to protect our forces. The hostages – he continued – were inside a civil neighbourhood, in an environment guarded by armed militiamen.” In the operation in Gaza «very complex intelligence information collected over weeks was used. It was a very big puzzle. We will continue to do everything – concluded the IDF spokesperson – to also recover the other hostages to whom we say “know that we are determined to get to you too””.
The Hostage Families Forum
The families of the hostages, forming a Forum, rejoice at the outcome of what they define as “a heroic operation by the IDF”. Bringing home «Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Andrey Kozlov and Almog Meir Jan is a miraculous triumph». Now, they write in a statement, «with the joy that overwhelms Israel, the government must remember its commitment to bring back all 120 hostages still held by Hamas: the living for rehabilitation, the killed for burial. We continue to call on the international community to exert the necessary pressure on Hamas to accept the proposed agreement and release the remaining 120 hostages held captive. Every day is one day too many.”
Gantz revokes the ultimatum speech to Netanyahu
After news of the hostages’ release spread, War Cabinet minister and centrist leader Benny Gantz canceled the press conference he had called for today evening, June 8. During the meeting with journalists, Gantz was supposed to issue an ultimatum to Benjamin Netanyahu, threatening the government’s exit if the prime minister did not change his policy on the ongoing war in Gaza.
The phone call between Argamani and President Herzog
Against her will, Noa Argmani became one of the symbols of the October 7 attack. She was picked up by Hamas and dragged away on a motorbike, while she begged the kidnappers not to kill her. As soon as she returned to Israel, she received a phone call from President Isaac Herzog. In addition to the “welcome home”, the president of Israel expressed his emotion at the rescue of the 25-year-old: “I embrace you on behalf of the entire nation of Israel.” The girl also had a telephone conversation with Netanyahu, telling the prime minister that she too was “very excited” because, after a long time, she was able to converse in Hebrew again.
