The IDF carried out the daring rescue operation on Saturday in Nuseirat in central Gaza.
New Delhi:
Israeli citizen Noa Argamani, 26, who was held captive by the Palestinian group Hamas for 245 days, was rescued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and reunited with her family. Argamani, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7 last year, spent eight harrowing months in captivity before being rescued on Saturday.
After Hamas launched a sensational land-sea-air attack against Israel, the Nova music festival, which attracted a large crowd of young revelers, quickly turned into a scene of chaos and terror. Amid the violence, Ms. Argamani and her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, were taken hostage. Viral footage of the incident showed Ms Argamani being forcibly taken to Gaza on the back of a motorbike, screaming in despair. The video went viral on the internet, drawing global attention to the attacks.
For 245 days, Ms. Argamani was held captive in Gaza. During her captivity, the condition of her mother, Liora, who suffers from terminal brain cancer, worsened.
The IDF carried out the daring rescue operation on Saturday in Nuseirat in central Gaza. This operation not only brought Ms. Argamani back, but also freed three other hostages – Andrey Kozlov, Almog Meir Jan and Shlomi Ziv.
We will never forget this day.
Welcome home, Noa, Almog, Andrey and Shlomi. pic.twitter.com/yzCzSFBZhN
—Israel ישראל (@Israel) June 8, 2024
Following the rescue, Ms. Argamani was transported to a hospital in Tel Aviv, where she was able to reunite with her mother. The emotional reunion took place at Tel Aviv’s Sourasky Medical Center, where Liora is receiving treatment.
Photo credit: Reuters
Argamani’s father, Yaakov, who saw his daughter for the first time after she returned to Israel in a military helicopter, described the reunion as the greatest birthday present he could receive.
Today is Yaakov Argamani’s birthday.
This is the best birthday gift any father could receive.
Happy Birthday Yaakov https://t.co/qa3JoguVTn
—Israel ישראל (@Israel) June 8, 2024
Thousands of Israelis gathered in what became known as “Hostage Square” in the center of Tel Aviv to celebrate the rescue and demand the release of the remaining hostages. The square has become a focal point of demonstrations and solidarity since the October 7 attacks.
Among the 251 people captured by Hamas, seven captives were released alive by Israeli forces. Currently, there are still 116 hostages in Gaza, including 41 who the army believes are dead.
This is the moment the helicopter took off with three of the hostages and left for Israel. pic.twitter.com/jSbkXTpUfr
—Israel ישראל (@Israel) June 8, 2024
Both Israeli 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, stating, “We never gave up on you even for a moment. I don’t know if you believed it, but we did and I’m glad it came true.”
The conflict, the deadliest in Gaza’s history, began with a deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, resulting in 1,189 Israeli deaths and the taking of 252 hostages. Israel’s response has been relentless, with the Gaza Ministry of Health reporting more than 36,801 deaths, most of them civilians.
This story originally appeared on Ndtv.com read the full story
