Four Israeli hostages, namely Noa Argamani (25), Almog Meir Jan (21), Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (40), were rescued in a heroic operation by the IDF, ISA and Israel Police.
The hostages were rescued from two separate locations in the heart of Nuseirat, Gaza, after being kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023.
In Israel, the families of the hostages, supported by tens of thousands of people, united to demand the return of the remaining hostages: “A deal that can bring them all back – the living for rehabilitation and the murdered for burial.”
Meanwhile, the Australian Jews joined together in Melbourne to celebrate the rescue of four hostages by the IDF: “The whole Jewish world is full of joy.”
The Zionist Federation of Australia expresses profound relief and gratitude for the successful rescue. ZFA President Jeremy Leibler said in a statement:
“This war started when Hamas invaded Israel on 7 October and murdered over a thousand people, before taking hostage 250 innocents. It will end when the hostages come home and Hamas surrenders. We pray for that day to come.”
In Israel, after rescue, Noa Argamani hugged and buried her face in her father’s chest, overcome with emotion as she saw him for the first time since her abduction by Hamas terrorists eight months ago.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted a high-risk rescue operation in Al-Nuseirat, central Gaza, which involved an air assault.
IDF Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari stated there were “under 100 casualties.” In a statement, Hagari said,
“This operation was a success in rescuing and returning four hostages. We will continue to do everything to return the 120 hostages still held in Gaza. We are confident that we will reach you, and this operation will not end until you are returned home.”
In a heartfelt video released by the Israeli government, Argamani expressed her relief and joy. “I’m so happy to be here,” she said, having been reunited with her father in a hospital. “I’m very moved, I haven’t heard Hebrew for so long.”
According to the IDF, the four hostages were rescued from two locations in Nuseirat and are now in good medical condition. They were held in two apartment buildings in a residential neighbourhood, the same area where an Israeli strike hit a UN school earlier in the week, resulting in 40 deaths.
Rear Admiral Hagari highlighted the complexity and danger of the operation, stating that hundreds of Israeli troops participated in the “complex daytime operation” that had been meticulously planned for weeks. “While under fire inside the buildings and on the way out from Gaza, our forces rescued our hostages,” he said, sending a clear message to Hamas about Israel’s determination to bring all hostages home. One Israeli soldier was killed during the operation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s told media outside Sheba Hospital after meeting with the rescued hostages and their families.
“We will not let up until we complete the mission and return home all the hostages, both those alive and dead.”
The Palestinian authorities reported that the IDF’s heavy bombardment of the Al-Nuseirat Camp during the rescue operation left at least 210 Palestinians dead and 400 wounded.
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