Four Israeli hostages freed in Gaza Strip operation

Four Israeli hostages were freed in a special operation conducted by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza Strip, on Saturday (10 June).

The hostages, Noa Argamani (25), Almog Meir Jan (21), Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (40), were abducted from the Nova music festival on 7 October and were found in two separate locations within Nuseirat.

Post-rescue, the IDF reported, “They are in good medical condition and have been transferred to the ‘Sheba’ Tel-HaShomer Medical Center for further medical examinations.”

During the operation, Arnon Zamora, a commander in the Israeli Border Police’s Yamam unit, was fatally injured and later died in the hospital.

Arnon Zamora

The Israeli police acknowledged his death, noting his service in a special counterterrorism unit.

The Gaza government media office provided a grim tally of the operation’s toll, stating, “At least 210 people have been killed and more than 400 injured as a result of the Israeli operation to rescue four hostages in central Gaza.” Those injured were being treated at Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

At an international level, US President Joe Biden commented on the operation during a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, stating, “I want to echo President Macron’s comments welcoming the safe rescue of four hostages that were returned to their families in Israel. We won’t stop working until all the hostages come home and a ceasefire is reached. That is essential to happen.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed the media at Sheba Hospital, where he met with the hostages and their families.

נועה,
שלומי,
אלמוג
אנדריי –
ברוכים השבים הביתה.

בעזרת השם ובזכות לוחמינו, נחזיר את כל חטופינו 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/19GwbjHdRP

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) June 8, 2024

Celebrating with Noa Argamani’s family, Netanyahu relayed a poignant moment: “And he said, ‘I received the best gift I could ever expect,'” referring to Noa’s father Yaakov, who was also celebrating his birthday. Netanyahu shared another touching anecdote from Andrey Kozlov, who maintained a notebook during captivity, writing, “Every day is a gift.”

Netanyahu reiterated Israel’s commitment to the safe return of all remaining hostages, stating, “The Israeli government expects Hamas to release them all, but if they don’t, Israel will do whatever it takes to get them all back home.”

The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) reported that the total number of people kidnapped from Israel and currently held in the Gaza Strip is 120. This figure includes those kidnapped before and during the October 7 attack, with at least 41 believed to be deceased.