This morning (Saturday) four Israeli hostages were rescued in Gaza’s Nuseirat camp in a joint operation of the Israel Defense Forces, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), and Israel Police.
Noa Argamani (25), Almog Meir Jan (21), Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (40), were held in captivity since they were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from the Nova Music Festival on October 7.
The hostages were rescued by forces of the IDF, ISA, and the police commando Yamam from two separate locations in the heart of Nuseirat in a complex, special daytime operation.
The hostages are in good medical condition and were transferred to the Sheba Medical Center in Tel-HaShomer for further medical examinations, where they were reunited with their families.
The fighting forces that rescued the abductees consisted of Shin Bet and IDF troops operating on Saturday morning in broad daylight. In what the IDF called “a daring operation,” Israeli forces raided two buildings at the same time – a complicated operation in the heart of the Gaza Strip.
Some time after the IDF’s initial announcement, the Israel Police stated that Yamam officer Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora died from wounds sustained during the rescue operation.
He was hit by Hamas fire during a major gun battle that erupted at the building where Meir Jan, Kozlov and Ziv were held. Zamora was extracted in critical condition and passed away in the hospital shortly after.
Israeli media reported that according to security officials, the name of the operation will be changed from “Seeds of Summer” to “Operation Arnon” in Zamora’s memory.
The operation was planned for many weeks, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Daniel Hagari said. Shin Bet intelligence informed the IDF of the condition of the abductees and their exact location.
After confirming that circumstances would make the operation possible, the order approving the operation was given this morning.
Noa Argamani (Photo: KAN News)
According to reports, the hostages were guarded by a large force of terrorists. Palestinian sources reported heavy casualties from cover fire and attacks meant to serve as a diversion to the special forces operating to rescue the hostages.
Hamas later called the operation a “war crime,” with Palestinian reports talking of around 200 killed and over 400 wounded by Israeli fire during the rescue mission.
“The security forces will continue to make every effort to bring all the hostages home,” the IDF stated.
Israeli hostages Almog Meir Jan and Andrey Kozlov land in Israel after being rescued from Gaza (Photo: IDF)
Following the safe return of the four hostages, Israeli President Isaac Herzog called them with tears of happiness to greet them and welcome them home.
Speaking to Noa Argamani, Herzog said: “Noa, I am so excited to hear your voice, it just brings tears to my eyes. I hug you in the name of all the people of Israel.”
נועה ארגמני שוחחה עם הנשיא הרצוג: “אני כל כך שמחה להיות פה” pic.twitter.com/DJ9rox5XDx
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) June 8, 2024
Later in the evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the freed hostages and their families in the hospital and vowed in a short statement: “We will return them all. Even now we are working on more possibilities to return hostages.”
The rescue, Netanyahu said, was a “heroic operation that will be inscribed in the annals of the people of Israel.”
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