Freed Israeli Hostage Noa Argamani Reunites with Terminally Ill Mother
Noa Argamani, one of the hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7, was reunited with her terminally ill mother just hours after being rescued from Gaza.
Argamani, along with three other hostages, was freed in a daring operation by Israeli special forces in central Gaza on Saturday.
The rescue mission, which took place in the town of Nuseirat, saw significant casualties. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported over 200 Palestinians killed and 400 injured, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirming approximately 100 casualties but not specifying how many were militants. The IDF stated that their forces came under heavy fire during the operation, which also resulted in the death of one Israeli officer.
Noa Argamani, 26, became a prominent symbol of the hostage crisis after harrowing footage of her abduction from the Nova music festival spread worldwide.
The video showed her being taken into Gaza on the back of a motorcycle, pleading for her life as her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, was marched alongside her. Or remains in captivity.
Upon her return, Argamani was transferred to Tel Hashomer hospital near Tel Aviv to be with her mother, Liora, who has terminal brain cancer.
“I’m so happy to be here,” Argamani said in a phone call with President Isaac Herzog, expressing relief and joy amidst friends and family.
“I haven’t spoken Hebrew in such a long time,” she said in a phone conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Her voice was filled with emotion as she added, “I’m very excited.”
The other rescued hostages – Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40 – were also in good medical condition following their release. They were among the many attendees of the music festival who were captured during the violent incursion by Hamas, which resulted in over 350 deaths and numerous abductions.
The operation sparked celebrations across Israel, with spontaneous gatherings and public announcements marking the rescue. On a beach in Tel Aviv, crowds cheered as lifeguards announced the news over a loudspeaker, reading the names of the freed hostages one by one.
Yan Gorjaltsan, a friend of Argamani’s from their hometown of Be’er Sheva, expressed his joy: “This is the happiest day of our lives. You can’t believe how we’re feeling.”
However, the high number of Palestinian casualties drew international criticism. United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese and the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the attack, labeling it a “horrific massacre.”
In the wake of the rescue, thousands of Israelis gathered in what has become known as Hostages Square in central Tel Aviv, calling for the release of the remaining hostages. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described the rescue as “miraculous” but urged the government to continue efforts to bring back all those still held by Hamas.
The conflict, which began with the October 7 attacks by Hamas, has resulted in significant loss of life on both sides. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, over 36,700 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war. Israeli casualties include the deaths of 1,200 people during the initial Hamas assault, with about 240 hostages taken during the incursion.
The international community, including U.S. President Joe Biden, continues to push for a ceasefire and a negotiated release of the remaining hostages. Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza remains dire, with hospitals overwhelmed and medical supplies running low.
As Noa Argamani and the other rescued hostages begin their journey of recovery, the focus remains on securing the freedom of those still in captivity and finding a path to peace amidst the ongoing conflict.
During the emotional reunion with her family, Argamani’s father, Yaakov, expressed his disbelief and joy: “Today is my birthday, and a gift like this I never believed I would get.”
In the hospital, Liora Argamani, though weak, managed to communicate with her daughter.
Hospital CEO Ronni Gamzu commented on the interaction: “For the last eight months, we have been trying to keep her in a status that she can communicate. We believe she understood that her daughter had come home.”