Israeli Noa Argamani has been rescued by IDF after 245 days in Hamas captivity.
Noa Argamani, a 26-year-old Israeli citizen held captive by Hamas for 245 days, has been rescued by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and reunited with her family.
Ms. Argamani, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7 last year, endured an excruciating eight months in captivity before her rescue on Saturday.
The ordeal began when Hamas launched a coordinated land, sea, and air assault on Israel, turning the Nova music festival, a gathering of young revelers, into a scene of chaos and terror.
7 Oct: The moment Noa Argamani was captured and dragged off and screaming on a motorcycle.
8 June: The moment she hugs her father after rescue. pic.twitter.com/cXc8STFGvs
— Imtiaz Mahmood (@ImtiazMadmood) June 8, 2024
Amidst the violence, Ms. Argamani and her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, were taken hostage. Viral footage captured Ms. Argamani being forcibly taken into Gaza on the back of a motorcycle, her desperate cries echoing worldwide as the video spread across the internet.
During her captivity in Gaza, Ms. Argamani’s plight was compounded by the deteriorating health of her mother, Liora, who suffers from terminal brain cancer.
The IDF’s daring rescue operation took place in Nuseirat, central Gaza, not only securing Ms. Argamani’s freedom but also liberating three other hostages: Andrey Kozlov, Almog Meir Jan, and Shlomi Ziv.
Following her rescue, Ms. Argamani was swiftly transported to Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, where she was reunited with her ailing mother.
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The emotional reunion was a poignant moment, as Liora has been undergoing treatment at the medical center.
Ms. Argamani’s father, Yaakov, who saw his daughter for the first time when she was flown back to Israel by military helicopter, described the reunion as the greatest birthday gift he could ever receive.
In Tel Aviv, thousands of Israelis gathered in “Hostage Square” to celebrate the successful rescue and demand the release of the remaining hostages.
The square, which has become a symbol of solidarity and protest since the October 7 attacks, was filled with jubilant supporters.
Out of the 251 individuals seized by Hamas, seven captives have been freed alive by Israeli forces. Presently, 116 hostages remain in Gaza, including 41 whom the military believes are deceased.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog personally congratulated Ms. Argamani on her safe return.
In an emotional phone call, Prime Minister Netanyahu reassured her, saying, “We never gave up on you for a moment. I don’t know if you believed in it, but we believed, and I am glad it came true.”
As Israeli Noa Argamani rescued by IDF after 245 days in Hamas captivity, this conflict, the deadliest in Gaza’s history, began with the brutal October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel, resulting in 1,189 Israeli deaths and the abduction of 252 hostages.
In retaliation, Israel has launched a relentless campaign, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 36,801 deaths, mostly civilians.
