The IDF rescues four hostages in Gaza – reveals how the Israeli military (IDF) on Saturday freed four hostages from Gaza, where they were held captive by Hamas. A spokesperson from the IDF is now disclosing details about the rescue mission, described as “one of the most complex in Israel’s history”. The four freed hostages are 25-year-old Noa Argamani, 21-year-old Almog Meir Jan, 27-year-old Andrey Kozlov, and 40-year-old Shlomi Ziv. They were all kidnapped from the Nova Festival in southern Israel during a terrorist attack on October 7th last year.
The IDF spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, explained during a briefing how the rescue mission unfolded. The hostages were being held among civilians in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza, which made the operation particularly challenging. “The four hostages were being held by two civilian families with armed guards. The three men were in one apartment, while Noa Argamani was held 200 meters away in another apartment,” Hagari says.
The rescue mission took place in daylight to surprise the Hamas terrorists. Several hundred soldiers participated to protect the special forces who entered the apartments to free the hostages. The operation posed an increased risk for the soldiers, as they were shot at when leaving the apartments with the hostages. “They were under fire on the street as they exited the apartments with the hostages. Terrorists in the area fired RPG rockets at them,” Hagari reports.
An Israeli soldier was injured during the operation. The four freed hostages are physically unharmed and have now been reunited with their families. According to Israeli estimates, there are still 116 hostages in Gaza, with over 40 presumed to be deceased. Among the remaining hostages is the Danish-Israeli citizen Itzik Elgarat, whom Hamas has previously declared dead, without confirmation from the Israeli side.
During the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th last year, more than 1,200 people were killed and over 250 were taken as hostages.