Heroic Rescue in Nuseirat

In a bold daylight operation, the Israeli military has successfully freed four hostages from the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to an announcement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Amidst the chaos, Palestinian officials reported that over 50 individuals lost their lives in strikes targeting the same area.

The hostages, identified as Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40, were rescued from two separate locations within Nuseirat. The IDF confirmed that these individuals were kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7.

“All four are in good medical condition and have been transferred to the ‘Sheba’ Tel-HaShomer Medical Center for further medical examinations,” the IDF stated.

Ongoing Efforts and Previous Rescues

This mission underscores the Israeli military’s continued efforts to rescue those taken during the Hamas attacks on October 7. Following this successful operation, the number of hostages still held in Gaza from the October 7 attacks is 116, with at least 41 confirmed dead.

The rescue operation coincided with heavy shelling and artillery fire reported in Nuseirat and surrounding areas. A spokesperson from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah reported that at least 55 people were killed due to the strikes in Nuseirat, Deir al-Balah, and al-Zawaideh, with the number of injured being so high it was challenging to confirm an exact count.

 

Hostage rescues are a rarity; this marks only the third successful mission of its kind. Previously, IDF Corporal Ori Megidish was freed from northern Gaza in October last year. More recently, on February 12, Fernando Marman and Louis Har were rescued from southern Rafah.

Among the rescued, Noa Argamani became a poignant symbol of the October 7 attacks. A widely circulated video showed her being abducted on a motorbike by Hamas fighters, pleading and shouting for help. Her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, was also seen being taken away by the militants in the same footage.

 

Noa’s mother, Liora Argamani, a Chinese citizen battling late-stage brain cancer, made a heartfelt plea last November in a video, calling on US President Joe Biden to help bring her daughter home. “I don’t know how long I have left. I wish for the chance to see my Noa at home,” she said.

The family had previously received indications that Noa was still alive, as she appeared in Hamas propaganda videos released in January this year.

This is a developing story; SOFREP will report additional information as it becomes available.