The Israel Defense Forces carried out a daring operation Saturday morning that successfully rescued alive four hostages who had been held by Hamas for the last eight months.
A joint statement released by the IDF, Shin Bet, and Israeli police said a "complex operation" liberated Noa Argamani (25), Almog Meir (21), Andrei Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (40) — all four of which were kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova Music Festival during the Iran-backed terrorists' October 7 massacre.
Noa Argamani (25), Almog Meir Jan (21), Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (40) were rescued in a special operation by the IDF, ISA and Israel Police from 2 separate locations in the heart of Nuseirat after being kidnapped by Hamas from the Nova music festival.
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 8, 2024
They are in good… pic.twitter.com/PnkjL4GRQz
Officials said the four hostages were rescued from two separate locations in Nuseirat in central Gaza. Not for nothing, the area is also home to a refugee camp, another instance of Hamas terrorists trying to hide behind and among civilians.
In this case, not only was Hamas keeping hostages in a civilian area, but the hostages were being held in civilian homes and civilians knew the hostages were there.
The Israeli hostages boldly rescued today were being held in civilian homes. This has been true since October 7. Civilians lined the streets, cheering when the hostages were taken into the Gaza Strip eight months ago. The same kind of civilians who cheered after 9/11.
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) June 8, 2024
The now-freed hostages are in "stable" condition and have been transferred to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer outside of Tel Aviv.
Israeli officials also reiterated their commitment to "make every effort to bring the hostages home."
Noa Argamani, abducted from the Nova music festival and held hostage in the Hamas Terror Dungeons for 8 months—free and reunited with her father. 💙😭 pic.twitter.com/W97Gm6MLE6
— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) June 8, 2024
FORMER hostages Andrey Kozlov (red shorts) and Almog Meir Jan (black shirt) escorted off a helicopter by the IDF.
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) June 8, 2024
Andrey and Almog - an entire nation has been waiting to welcome you home 💙💙 pic.twitter.com/IfyiffHRTd
According to The Jerusalem Post, Argamani was rescued from one of the two locations and Meir, Kozlov, and Ziv were rescued from the other.
The announcement of the successful Israeli rescue came after the IDF said it was launching strikes on "terror infrastructure" in Nuseirat, which was later realized to be part of the operation to liberate hostages and bring them home to Israel.
The IDF in an unusual statement says it has been striking "terror infrastructure" in central Gaza's Nuseirat in the past hour.
— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) June 8, 2024
No further details are given.
According to IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, hundreds of soldiers participated in the rescue that included Israeli strikes "from the land, air, and sea."
"It was a complex and difficult operation," Hagari added, "under constant gunfire — but it was successful."
More details of today’s daring operation.
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) June 8, 2024
At 11am Israel time, the order was given to raid two multi-story buildings in central Gaza's Nuseirat where 4 hostages were being held.
The buildings were about 200 meters apart and the decision to raid both simultaneously was out of… pic.twitter.com/dSK6StXcBf
Notably, Saturday's operation demonstrated the importance of Israel's continued military campaign in Gaza not just to eliminate the military threat posed by Hamas but to rescue its hostages — and showed a ceasefire is not necessary to bring the hostages home.
It's also a clear repudiation of the Biden administration's repeated demand that Israel stand down. If the White House had gotten its way, these four Israelis would still be hostages of Hamas today. Instead, they're free and reunited with their loved ones.
The much-needed good news, a reason for hope that more hostages will be rescued in the days ahead, was celebrated across Israel on Saturday.
The whole Jewish world is in floods of uncontrollable tears right now. Tears of happiness, tears of pent-up fears and anxieties and frustrated expectations letting loose. Four hostages. Rescued. Alive. #AmYisraelChai
— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) June 8, 2024
The moment a lifeguard on the Tel Aviv beach announces that 4 hostages were rescued alive from Gaza. pic.twitter.com/iKfrylJ8v6
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) June 8, 2024
This story has been updated to include additional quotes and information released by the IDF.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member