Israel rescues Noa Argamani who was kidnapped by Hamas motorbikers
Israel has rescued four hostages alive from Gaza who were captured by Hamas at Nova music festival on October 7.
This includes Noa Argamani, 26, who was seen kidnapped on the back of motorbike during the horrifying terrorist attacks.
An emotional video of Noa being reunited with her father has been released on social media, with the pair being filmed hugging and kissing.
The hostages are in a good medical condition, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said.
The other hostages, who were captured by Hamas from the Nova music festival in October, were named as Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27,, and Shlomi Ziv, 40.
The video of Noa being kidnapped on the back of a motorcycle became symbolic of the horrors faced by civilians at the festival and across southern Israel when the violence erupted.
Noa Argamani, 25, was seen kidnapped on the back of motorbike during the horrifying terrorist attacks
Noa, who is 26, was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7 and taken into Gaza
Hamas later appeared in a chilling hostage video in January
In a statement, the IDF said: ‘The hostages were rescued by the IDF, ISA and ‘Yamam’ forces from two separate locations in the heart of Nuseirat.
‘They are in good medical condition and have been transferred to the ‘Sheba’ Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre for further medical examinations.
‘The security forces will continue to make every effort to bring the hostages home.’
After Noa was captured in October, she later appeared in a chilling hostage video in January, speaking to camera alongside fellow captives Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38. The two men were later reported to have been killed, with Noa forced to announce their deaths.
Hamas also published a ‘psychological terror’ video of what was believed to be the voice of Noa Argamani on May 31.
It sparked outcry from her family and campaigners who have called for the government to bring her and the other hostages in Gaza home.
Family members of hostages react as they walk towards a medical center after the military said that Israeli forces have rescued four hostages alive from the central Gaza Strip today
Noa’s mother Liora Argamani has stage 4 brain cancer and has repeatedly expressed her desire to see her daughter again
Noa was one of just 19 women that are still being held by the terror group
Noa’s voice was heard on May 31, accompanied with drawings which her family believe were done by the young woman
The voice identified as Noa can be heard saying: ‘I am imprisoned with Al-Qassam Brigades [the armed wing of Hamas].
‘I have been in captivity for more than 237 days and do not know till when.
‘I say to the people of Israel: Have you become government partners with Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz? Will my fate together with my colleagues be like Ron Arad’s fate?’
Ron Arad was an Israeli airman who bailed out of his plane during a mission over southern Lebanon in 1986 and was taken hostage. Israel has tried to locate him for decades but he is now presumed dead.
The Argamani Family initially released a statement via the Hostages & Missing Families Forum shortly after the video began circulating asking that it not be broadcast.
But soon after, the forum provided the following statement, allowing the publication of the video with the family’s approval.
Sickening footage showed the moment Israeli hostage Noa was seized by Hamas and driven to Gaza on the back of a motorbike (pictured) on October 7
The chilling video showed Noa surrounded by at least ten gun-toting terrorists (pictured) who can be heard jeering and shouting at her
In the footage published in April, the woman can be heard wailing as she is manhandled by a Palestinian fighter, who holds her head down as he places a black bag over her face (pictured)
This picture of Noa – her arms outstretched toward her boyfriend as she screams for help – became one of the most recognisable images of the atrocities after it was published by The Mail on Sunday on October 8
‘After assessing the situation and receiving additional information, the Argamani family has approved the use of a video in which Noa Argamani was heard while being held hostage by Hamas,’ it said.
‘Alongside Noa’s voice, drawings are shown, which the family believes to be scribbles that Noa has drawn.’
The forum statement continued, saying, ‘125 men and women have been held hostage by Hamas for 238 days. The Israeli government must hear the call and act decisively, without the need for any propaganda video from Hamas, to swiftly reach a deal to bring the hostages home!’
Noa’s mother Liora Argamani has stage 4 brain cancer and has repeatedly expressed her desire to see her daughter again.
Late last year, the 61-year-old made a last ditch plea to US President Joe Biden begging him for the opportunity to ‘hug’ her daughter ‘one last time’ before she dies.
She said: ‘I am terminally ill with Stage 4 brain cancer.
‘All that’s running through my mind before I part ways with my family forever is the chance to hug my daughter, my only child, one last time
‘My daughter Noa is a contagiously happy and resilient young woman.
‘She loves to dance, loves music, loves being with her friends and family.’
In March, she made another please to the President, saying in a video message: ‘My heart really hurts. On one hand it’s physical, it’s not working the way it should. One the other hand, because my daughter is a hostage.
‘Since the kidnapping, when I see her look in this picture, it chokes me up.
‘How beautiful she is, how amazing she is. I want to see [my daughter] one more time. Talk to her one more time,’ she pleaded.
‘I am asking you President Joe Biden, I don’t have a lot of time left in this world. It may be my last wish, I am really begging you.’
The young woman was among more than 100 people who are believed to still be being held hostage in Gaza. She is one of just 19 women that are still being held by the terror group.
Some of the survivors who have been released from Gaza during the hostage exchange and ceasefire deal in November have described being tortured, sexually assaulted and starved in captivity.
