Israeli forces successfully rescued four hostages from central Gaza, all of whom were captured by Hamas during the Nova music festival on Oct. 7. The hostages rescued include Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Shlomi Ziv, and Andrey Kozlov. Noa Argamani, 26, had become the face of the hostages after a video of her capture showed her screaming as she was carried on the back of a motorcycle. Almog Meir Jan, 21, was meant to start a new job at a tech company on the day he was captured, and Shlomi Ziv, 40, was described as a family-oriented man who is always ready to help. Andrey Kozlov, 27, had recently moved to Israel from Russia about a year ago.
The father of Noa Argamani, Yaakov Argamani, expressed his intense gratitude for his daughter’s rescue and called for the release of the remaining hostages. He thanked everyone involved in the rescue and stressed the importance of bringing all the hostages back to Israel. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also reacted to the news, calling it an important sign of hope and urging Hamas to release all the remaining hostages. National security advisor Jake Sullivan commended Israeli forces for the rescue and stated the U.S. support for efforts to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum paid tribute to Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, who was killed during the rescue operation. The Forum expressed deep sorrow over his death and praised the dedication and courage of the security forces involved in the operation. The Israeli Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia, was in contact with the parents of Andrey Kozlov and was assisting them as they prepared to meet their son in Israel. President Joe Biden also welcomed the rescue of the hostages and emphasized the importance of freeing all hostages and reaching a ceasefire in Gaza.
At least 200 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes in a Gaza camp in one of the bloodiest incidents of the war. The wounded were taken to hospitals, including Al-Awda Hospital and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where they received treatment. An Israeli special forces officer, Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, was killed during the hostage rescue operation in Gaza, and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant praised the military operation as one of the most heroic and extraordinary in his 47 years of experience. Noa Argamani’s kidnapping became widely known after a video of her abduction was seen around the world, making her a symbol of the ongoing hostage crisis.
The rescued hostages, including Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv, were transferred to a medical center near Tel Aviv and are reported to be in good medical condition. Efforts to free Noa Argamani were deemed urgent due to her mother’s terminal illness. The hostages, who were abducted together by Hamas during the Nova music festival, are now safe in Israeli custody. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Noa Argamani following her rescue, expressing his excitement at her return. The successful raid and rescue of the hostages have brought hope for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of all remaining hostages.
