Israeli Police on Monday released dramatic footage showing the rescue of three hostages by forces of the elite Israeli counter-terrorism unit from central Gaza’s Nuseirat on Saturday. Eight months after they were kidnapped during a deadly incursion in the country, Israeli forces last week rescued four hostages alive from two locations in the central Gaza area.
The four hostages, including three males and one female, were abducted from the Nova music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7 last year. They were identified as Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40. The video, released by Israeli Police, showed officers storming into the home of a Hamas terrorist who was holding the three Israeli men hostage.
‘Everything is ok’
The officers reached a room in the house where the three hostages were seen cowering amid heavy gunfire and explosions. “Hebrew, Hebrew, where is everyone?” an Israeli officer is heard shouting to the three men, according to The Times of Israel. “Here, they are here,” another officer said.
“Name, name,” the first officer calls to Meir Jan and Kozlov, who respond with their names. “Three [hostages] are in our hands,” the officer said after identifying the three. “Everything is ok. We have come to rescue you, be calm,” the officer said, before fist-bumping Meir Jan. The video then cuts to show hostages being rushed out of the area by the Israeli officers.
After eight months of war in Gaza triggered by Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, 116 of the approximately 250 hostages abducted by militants are left in the Palestinian enclave. A total of 40 have been declared dead in absentia by authorities. Israel’s chief military spokesman said the rescue operation was held under fire in the heart of a residential neighbourhood, where he said Hamas had been concealing hostages among Gaza civilians under the armed guard of militants.
‘I am so happy to be here’
In a televised news conference, spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said one Israeli soldier had been badly injured. Israeli forces returned fire, including with airstrikes, he said. The Gaza health ministry said that at least 55 Palestinians were killed in the Israeli operation. A video of Argamani receiving a telephone call from Israeli President Isaac Herzog was distributed by his office.
“I am so happy to be here. Thank you for everything, thank you for this moment,” a smiling Argamani said, sitting with her father in a hospital room. In another video, speaking on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Argamani said, “I am very moved. I haven’t heard Hebrew for so long.”
(With agency inputs)
Vikram Sharma is a globe-trotting journalist with a global perspective on international events. His articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing insights into the world’s most pressing challenges.
