In a daring daytime raid in central Gaza on Saturday, Israeli security forces rescued four hostages, including Noa Argamani, whose abduction on October 7 had become emblematic of the crisis. The operation, however, also resulted in significant casualties, with Gaza’s Ministry of Health reporting more than 200 Palestinians killed and another 400 injured. The exact number of civilian casualties remains unclear.
The hostages—Noa Argamani, 25; Almog Meir Jan, 21; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 40—were among those kidnapped by Hamas during the Nova music festival on October 7. They have since been transferred to the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center near Tel Aviv, where authorities report they are in “good medical condition.“
The United States provided critical intelligence support for the operation, according to a U.S. official. The New York Times was the first to report on the U.S. involvement.
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The rescue mission targeted the central Gaza town of Nuseirat, which includes a refugee camp where the hostages had been held. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), their forces came under heavy fire during the operation, and one officer was injured and later succumbed to his wounds.
The liberation of the hostages sparked jubilation across Israel. In Tel Aviv, beachgoers cheered as lifeguards announced the news over a loudspeaker, reading the names of the rescued individuals. A heartwarming video circulated on social media showing Argamani’s emotional reunion with her father. She also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing her relief and excitement.
Yan Gorjaltsan, a friend of Argamani’s, expressed the overwhelming joy shared by her friends and family. “This is the happiest day of our lives, You can’t believe how we’re feeling.“
Noa Argamani reunited with her father and soon her dying mother has birthed new hope. It is the single most beautiful moment I have witnessed. Sadness and gentle joy. Love and relief. Time gifted.pic.twitter.com/4pC7UgEbLN
— Heidi Bachram 🎗️ (@HeidiBachram) June 8, 2024
The raid, however, drew condemnation from international observers and organizations. United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese criticized the operation’s high civilian toll, stating that the rescues “should not have come at the expense of at least 200 Palestinians, including children.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C., denounced the broader assault by Israeli forces as a “horrific massacre” at a refugee camp.
Hospitals in the area, already stretched thin, were overwhelmed by the influx of casualties. Doctors Without Borders described the situation at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital as “a nightmare,” with medical teams struggling to cope with the large number of severely injured patients.
Chris Hook, a Doctors Without Borders official in Nasser, reported seeing 50 casualties from the attack within one hour. The organization Medical Corps also issued a statement detailing the overwhelming number of cases at its field hospital in central Gaza.
In a press briefing, IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari acknowledged “about under 100” Palestinian casualties, but could not specify how many were militants. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum hailed the rescue as “miraculous” and urged the government to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called the rescue “a great light in a terrible darkness,” while reflecting on the broader context of the conflict. Argamani’s abduction had been widely publicized, her desperate cries for help making her a poignant symbol of the hostage crisis.
The other rescued hostages each had their own harrowing stories. Almog Meir Jan had been recently released from military service and was captured while trying to flee the festival. Shlomi Ziv, working as a security guard, had contacted his sisters while attempting to escape. Andrey Kozlov, who had moved to Israel from Russia, was also a security guard at the festival.
This marks the second successful rescue operation by the IDF since the October 7 attacks, during which Hamas militants captured approximately 240 people, resulting in 1,200 deaths inside Israel. While half of the hostages were released during a cease-fire in November, more than 120 remain in captivity, with some believed to be deceased.
The conflict has displaced around 2 million people in Gaza, with the Ministry of Health reporting a staggering 36,731 deaths. Israel has faced increasing international pressure to minimize civilian casualties in its military operations.
As the region continues to grapple with the profound impacts of the conflict, the successful rescue of these four hostages brings a glimmer of hope amid the ongoing turmoil.
