Israeli military rescues four hostages alive from Gaza, including Noa Argamani
Israeli security forces rescued four hostages during a daytime raid in central Gaza Saturday, including Noa Agramani, who became the face of the hostages taken on Oct. 7 after harrowing video of her abduction was seen around the world.
The hostages have been transferred to the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center near Tel Aviv, where authorities say they are in "good medical condition."
The rescued hostages are Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40, according to a statement issued by The Israel Defense Forces, Israel Securities Authority and the Israel Police.
They were among those kidnapped by Hamas during the Nova music festival on Oct. 7.
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The news was received with jubilation in Israel. On a beach in Tel Aviv, crowds cheered as life guards announced the news over a loud speaker, reading their names one by one.
A video circulating on social media showed Argamani as she reunited with her father. She also spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone conversation following her rescue. "I'm very excited," she said. "I haven't spoken Hebrew in such a long time."
Yan Gorjaltsan, a friend of Argamani's from their hometown of Be'er Sheva told NBC News he and a group of friends were on their way to Tel Aviv to see her. "This is the happiest days of our lives," he said. "You can't believe how we're feeling."
The rescue came as pressure was building for Netanyahu to strike a deal for the release of the hostages, with thousands of people protesting regularly in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
The Hostages Families Forum, which advocates for the release of the hostages, called the rescue a "miraculous" triumph, adding that the government should "bring back all 120 hostages