Who Are the Four Hostages Rescued in Gaza?

Four hostages kidnapped from the Nova music pageant and held by militants in Gaza for the final eight months had been rescued by Israeli forces on Saturday.

Since the Hamas-led terrorist assault on Oct. 7, Israel has solely freed a small variety of hostages by way of army pressure. Saturday’s rescues occurred in Nuseirat in central Gaza, the place well being officers reported that dozens of Palestinians had been killed.

Here is what we all know concerning the 4 hostages who had been introduced again to Israel.

Noa Argamani

Noa Argamani, 26, was taken hostage within the Oct. 7 assault alongside her boyfriend, Avinatan Or. Viral footage confirmed Ms. Argamani being taken into Gaza on the again of a bike as she cried out in desperation.

Ms. Argamani and her boyfriend had been kidnapped from the Nova music pageant in southern Israel, the place militants carried out brutal atrocities in opposition to partygoers. The destiny of Ms. Argamani’s boyfriend is unknown.

The plight of Ms. Argamani obtained outsized consideration, partially as a result of her mom, Liora, is affected by mind most cancers and her situation has deteriorated considerably in latest months.

“I don’t know the way a lot time I’ve left,” the mom mentioned final yr. “I want to see my Noa at house.”

Andrey Kozlov

Andrey Kozlov, 27, was working as a safety guard on the music pageant when he was taken. He not too long ago immigrated to Israel from Russia and was a resident of Rishon Lezion, a metropolis in central Israel.

In January, Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian deputy overseas minister, advised Hamas officers that the discharge of civilians captured within the Oct. 7 assault, together with Mr. Kozlov and two different Russian residents, needs to be sped up, in keeping with a press release from the Russian overseas ministry.

In footage shared on social media on Saturday, Mr. Kozlov might be seen smiling as he was escorted by troops from a army helicopter.

Almog Meir Jan

Almog Meir Jan, 22, was kidnapped a day earlier than he was supposed to start out a brand new job at a know-how firm, in keeping with the Hostage Families Forum.

In December, Sky News aired an interview along with his mom, Orit, who mentioned that her son had referred to as her on Oct. 7 at 7:45 a.m. and described the chaotic scenes unfolding on the pageant web site.

“Mom, they closed the pageant,” she recalled him saying. “There are rockets and capturing in every single place.”

On Saturday, footage of Mr. Meir Jan’s household celebrating the information of his freedom was shared on social media. “I’m so excited,” his mom mentioned.

Shlomi Ziv

Shlomi Ziv, 41, was working as a safety guard on the pageant. He is a resident of Elkosh, a group in northern Israel, the place he lived along with his spouse, Miran, in keeping with the Hostage Families Forum.