Israeli security forces rescued four hostages, including Noa Argamani, a prominent face among the Oct. 7 abductees, during a daytime raid in central Gaza on Saturday. The operation, conducted in the town of Nuseirat, resulted in significant casualties among Palestinians.
The rescued hostages are Argamani, 25; Almog Meir Jan, 21; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 40, as confirmed by a joint statement from the Israel Defense Forces, the Israel Securities Authority, and the Israel Police. They were among those kidnapped by Hamas during the Nova music festival on Oct. 7. The hostages have been transferred to Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center near Tel Aviv, where they are reported to be in “good medical condition.”
A U.S. official confirmed that the United States provided intelligence support for the operation, first reported by The New York Times.
The rescue took place amid a larger assault on Nuseirat, which includes a refugee camp and the area where the hostages were held. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that 210 people were killed and another 400 injured during the operation, with unclear numbers of civilian casualties. The international community has largely condemned the resulting bloodshed.
The news of the hostages’ liberation was met with jubilation in Israel. In Tel Aviv, crowds cheered as lifeguards announced their names over loudspeakers. A video on social media showed Argamani reuniting with her father and speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressing her excitement at being able to speak Hebrew again.
Yan Gorjaltsan, a friend of Argamani from Be’er Sheva, described the rescue as one of the happiest days of their lives. However, the operation’s toll on Palestinians drew sharp criticism. United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese condemned the high Palestinian death toll, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations called the broader attack a “horrific massacre.”
Footage from NBC News depicted the dire aftermath in Nuseirat, with hospitals overwhelmed and scenes of devastation. Doctors Without Borders described the situation as a “nightmare,” with hospitals inundated with severely injured patients, including many women and children.
The Israel Defense Forces reported that their forces faced heavy fire during the operation, resulting in the injury and subsequent death of one officer. IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari acknowledged about 100 Palestinian casualties but did not specify how many were combatants.
The rescue occurred amid growing pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu to secure the release of hostages, with regular protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum hailed the rescue as “miraculous” and urged the government to secure the release of all remaining hostages.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called the rescue “a great light in a terrible darkness.” Argamani, a data science engineering student, became a symbol of Israel’s hostage crisis after a video showed her being abducted on a motorcycle. Her family had feared for her safety, especially as her mother battles terminal brain cancer.
Almog Meir Jan, recently released from military service, was captured trying to flee the festival. Shlomi Ziv, a security guard at Nova, contacted his sisters while attempting to escape. Andrey Kozlov, a recent immigrant from Russia, was also working as a security guard at the festival.
Saturday’s operation marks the second successful hostage rescue by the IDF from Gaza since Oct. 7. Earlier, in February, two hostages were rescued from Rafah, and in May, the bodies of three hostages were recovered from Jabalia camp in northern Gaza.
Hamas captured approximately 240 hostages during the Oct. 7 attacks, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths in Israel. About half of the hostages were released during a cease-fire in November, but more than 120 remain in captivity, with some presumed dead.
Israel declared war following the Oct. 7 incursion, targeting Hamas strongholds in Gaza, which has led to significant civilian displacement and casualties. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the conflict has resulted in 36,731 deaths in Gaza. International pressure has mounted on Israel to improve the precision of its military operations and reduce civilian casualties.