Four hostages who had been taken prisoner on October 7 during a Hamas attack were set free, Israel said on Saturday. The AP said that following a challenging special daylight operation, the army declared that Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40, had been saved. The story claims that the captives, who were allegedly taken from the Nova music festival, were discovered and set free in two separate locations in the heart of Nuseirat. An Israel Defense Forces statement posted online states that the four have been sent to the Sheba Medical Center for additional examination. It is said that they are in "good medical condition".
Forum Headquarters, speaking for some of the relatives of the detainees, praised the rescue as a "miraculous triumph" and thanked the IDF for their "heroic operation," according to the Washington Post. A video of Argamani's eight-month jail stay reunion with her father is making the rounds on social media. According to a Post story from October 7, Argamani cried out, "Do not kill me!" as he was being driven into Gaza on a motorcycle. Her mother, whose sickness is terminal, begged Hamas to release her as a final request.
About 250 people were kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 during their attack on southern Israel. During a week-long ceasefire in November, over half were released. There is considerable division among the country about the best way to free the estimated 25% of hostages who are still believed to be alive in Israel. Seven hostages have been rescued, making the number of living captives retrieved during Saturday's operation the most since the war's beginning.
Forum Headquarters, speaking for some of the relatives of the detainees, praised the rescue as a "miraculous triumph" and thanked the IDF for their "heroic operation," according to the Washington Post. A video of Argamani's eight-month jail stay reunion with her father is making the rounds on social media. According to a Post story from October 7, Argamani cried out, "Do not kill me!" as he was being driven into Gaza on a motorcycle. Her mother, whose sickness is terminal, begged Hamas to release her as a final request.
About 250 people were kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 during their attack on southern Israel. During a week-long ceasefire in November, over half were released. There is considerable division among the country about the best way to free the estimated 25% of hostages who are still believed to be alive in Israel. Seven hostages have been rescued, making the number of living captives retrieved during Saturday's operation the most since the war's beginning.
