Israel Saves Four Hostages in Gaza in Their Biggest Rescue Mission Since October 7th
The rescued individuals have been identified as Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40.
The Israeli military has successfully rescued four hostages in a “high-risk” operation deep within the Gaza Strip, as stated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
All four hostages are currently in good medical condition and have been transported to Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center in Tel Aviv for further evaluation, according to Mr. Hagari.
He mentioned that they will soon be reunited with their families after spending 246 days in captivity under Hamas.
Mr. Hagari explained that these individuals were forcefully taken during the Nova Musical Festival in southern Israel by Hamas-led terrorists on Oct. 7, which triggered the ongoing conflict.
The rescue operation, carried out during daylight around 11 a.m. local time, was based on precise intelligence and involved Israeli forces entering two separate buildings amid gunfire. One Israeli special forces soldier was critically injured during the mission.
This operation marks the largest successful rescue effort of hostages since the commencement of the conflict, with a total of seven individuals now saved by Israeli forces.
Netanyahu Meets With Hostage Survivors
Mr. Netanyahu expressed his joy in a caption, welcoming back Noa, Shlomi, Almog, and Andrey, and assuring their safe return with the help of their fighters.
Among the rescued hostages, Noa Argamani gained significant recognition after being abducted at the music festival. Footage of her abduction, where she pleaded for her life, was among the first to surface.
IDF Committed to Bringing Back Remaining Hostages
Mr. Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s determination not to yield to terrorism and to use all means to bring back their abductees.
Hamas had taken around 250 hostages during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack, resulting in over 1,200 fatalities.
Approximately 120 hostages are believed to be still in captivity in the Palestinian enclave, with at least 43 declared deceased by authorities. The survivors include women, children, and elderly individuals.
The recent rescue operation was carried out amidst pressure from the Biden administration for a ceasefire deal, which includes releasing the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
President Joe Biden, currently engaged in talks about the Middle East during his visit to France, celebrated the return of the hostages and reiterated the commitment to continue efforts until all hostages are rescued and a ceasefire is achieved.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
From NTD News