Israeli hostage freed in time to visit terminal mother – rescuer dies from wounds

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Hours after being rescued from eight months captivity in Gaza, freed hostage Noa Argamani arrived at a hospital in Tel Aviv to see her terminally ill mother.

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Argamani, 26, was one of the most recognised faces among the hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7. Harrowing footage of her being taken into Gaza on the back of a motorcycle, pleading for her life and reaching desperately towards her boyfriend being marched alongside her on foot circulated across the globe.

Argamani’s boyfriend Avinatan Or is still in captivity.

Argamani was rescued on Saturday, along with three other hostages, in an operation by Israeli special forces from an apartment building in central Gaza.

“I’m so happy to be here,” she said in a phone call with Israel’s president upon her return, smiling and surrounded by friends and family.

She was later met with cheers upon arrival at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center where her mother, Liora, was being treated for terminal brain cancer.

Back in October, shortly after her daughter was abducted from a music festival turned killing field in southern Israel, Liora, sitting in a wheelchair, was asked in an interview with a local television station how she imagined their reunion.

“At least to be able to hug her,” Liora answered.

Hospital CEO Ronni Gamzu said the mother’s condition was “complicated and tough”. He said Argamani was able to communicate with her mother, who they believe understood that her daughter had come home.

“For the last eight months we are trying to keep her in a status that she can communicate,” Gamzu said.

Argamani’s father, Yaakov, first met her after a military helicopter carried her back to Israel.

“Today is my birthday, and a gift like this I never believed I would get,” he said.

In an emotional phone call with President Itzhak Herzog,  he expressed his happiness at Noa’s release. Speaking directly to Noa, President Herzog’s words were laden with emotion.

“The entire nation of Israel embraces you. There is no woman in the world named Noa who has not changed her name and image on social media to yours in solidarity. You are a global figure.”

The footage of Noa Argamani’s abduction on October 7th has been published worldwide. In the video,  Argamani is seen surrounded by Hamas militants, one of whom covers her head while she rides on a motorcycle. At least ten armed men can be seen in the footage surrounding Argamani, who cries as they shout at her. The previous documentation of Noa Argamani being kidnapped from the Nova Nature Festival with her partner Avinatan Or has become one of the symbols of the ongoing war. Or remains in Hamas captivity.

In a separate conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Noa expressed her profound gratitude and admitted, “I am very emotional. I haven’t spoken Hebrew in so long.”

Netanyahu stated, “We never gave up on you for a moment. I don’t know if you believed in it, but we believed, and I am glad it came true.”

“Enjoy the time with your family, and hug your mother for me,” he added.

The last time anyone heard from Almog Meir Jan (21) was when he called his mother from the middle of the Hamas slaughter at the Nova Festival on Oct 7 to tell her he loved her. Today he was reunited with his family and friends in a celebration of love and joy being felt across… pic.twitter.com/xM3XvOGRrD

— Jewish News Syndicate (@JNS_org) June 8, 2024

The Israel Police announce with great sorrow the death in battle of Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, commander and tactical operator in the Yamam (National Police Counter-Terrorism Unit), who was critically wounded in the successful operation to rescue hostages this morning in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/faAd0p8f14

— Israel Police (@israelpolice) June 8, 2024

More than 360 people were killed during the rampage at the Nova dance festival, and another 40 were taken hostage by Hamas, according to Israeli tallies.

Nearby the hospital in central Tel Aviv, at what has become known as hostage square, thousands of Israelis rallied to commemorate the rescue of the four hostages and to demand the release of more than 115 that remain in Gaza.

In Australia, Zionist Federation of Australia president Jeremy Leibler said: “We are immensely relieved by the safe return of Noa, Almog, Andrey and Shlomi. Their release is a testament to the relentless efforts of the IDF and the unwavering commitment to return all hostages to their families – a commitment underlined by the tragic loss of Armon Zamora, who was killed during the operation. 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.”

Once again, the brutal reality of Hamas’s tactics has been revealed. The hostages were held in a home, amongst civilians. Hamas tactics purposefully endanger civilians; it is the party primarily responsible for the loss of civilian life in Gaza. We call upon the international community to recognise and condemn these war crimes, and to support all efforts to remove Hamas from power.”