Israeli forces rescue four hostages after heavy gunfire
The rescued hostages
Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
Four Israeli hostages kidnapped from the Nova music festival on 7 October have been rescued by the Israeli military after heavy gunfire.
Those freed are Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrei Kozlov, 27 and Shlomi Ziv, 41
Israel says the rescue was conducted in broad daylight, under heavy fire, at two separate buildings in Nuseirat, Central Gaza, BBC reports.
The freed hostages are said to be in a good medical condition and have been pictured embracing family members at the ‘Sheba’ Tel-HaShomer Medical Center, where they have been checked.
Dozens of people, including children, have been killed and injured in the area where the operation took place, with images and footage showing significant numbers of casualties, according to BBC.
Staff at the Al-Aqsa hospital are said to be struggling to treat the casualties.
- Gaza war: 9,000 women killed so far, says UN Women
- Israeli forces strike Damascus neighbourhood
- Hamas frees eight hostages to Israel as talks seek to extend Gaza truce
Meanwhile, at least 55 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in attacks in Al-Nuseirat camp and other areas in central Gaza, according to the region’s Hamas-run health ministry.
The spokesperson adds that the hospital, one of the only still functioning in Gaza, is currently operating via one power generator and that could go out of service.
The Hostages Families Forum Headquarters, a group representing the families of the hostages, described the rescue of the four hostages as “a miraculous triumph,” and thanked the IDF for the “heroic operation”.
During its October 7 attacks in southern Israel, Hamas killed about 1,200 people and took some 251 people hostage. Some 116 remain in the Palestinian territory, including 41 the army says are dead.
The group added: “The Israeli government must remember its commitment to bring back all 120 hostages still held by Hamas — the living for rehabilitation, the murdered for burial.”
