Fox News

 'We are overjoyed': Israel frees 4 prisoners taken hostage by Hamas.

In the biggest hostage recovery operation since the start of the Gaza war with Hamas, three men and one lady were freed.

Israel claims to have successfully freed four hostages who were taken prisoner by Hamas on October 7.

The largest hostage recovery operation since the start of the Gaza war with Hamas, according to the IDF, involved the release of three men and one woman who were held captive.

A difficult special daytime operation in the center of Nuseirat, Gaza, resulted in the rescue of Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Shlomi Ziv, 41, and Andrey Kozlov, 27, in two different locations. The terrorist organization had imprisoned them for 246 days.

AT THE INTERFAITH CONFERENCE IN NEW YORK, FAMILIES OF HOSTAGES TAKEN IN ISRAEL ON OCT 7 PLEAD FOR PEACE

Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Shlomi Ziv, 41, and Andrey Kozlov, the Israeli hostages, are shown in the picture 27, were freed during a difficult special daytime operation in the center of Nuseirat, Gaza. (IDF).

Ever since Argamani was kidnapped from a music event in southern Israel, she has been one of the most well-known hostages. One of the earliest videos of her kidnapping emerged, showing her scared expression as she was held between two men on a motorcycle with one arm extended and the other restrained while she cried out, "Don't kill me!"

In an April video, her mother Liora, who is suffering from stage four brain cancer, begged to meet her daughter before she passed away.

In order to free the hostages, Shin Bet agents and members of the Yamam National Police special anti-terror squad raided two Hamas buildings at the same time. At one location, Argamani was saved, and at the other, Meir Jan, Kozlov, and Ziv place.

Principal Examiner Arnon Zmora
During the raid, Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora lost his life. (IDF)

Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora, an officer in Yamam's special anti-terror squad, suffered serious injuries during the operation and subsequently passed away.

120 Israelis are still being held captive in Gaza by Hamas. 43 of them have been pronounced dead, and Hamas continues to hold their remains.

"Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said in a statement, 'We are overjoyed to have you home, Noa, Almog, Andrey, and Shlomi."

"Our soldiers carried out an incredible mission that freed four hostages held by Hamas and returned them to Israel."

Andrey Kozlov exiting an aircraft following his release from the custody of Hamas Walking out of a chopper following his rescue from Hamas is Andrey Kozlov. (TPS-IL/Gideon Markowicz)

"I observed the intricate operation from the command and control center; the IDF, ISA, and Special Forces executed their job with remarkable bravery despite intense fire. The Israeli military establishment will not stop fighting until all 120 captives have been released."

After serving in Israel's defense establishment for 47 years, Gallant later called the mission the "most heroic and extraordinary operations" he had ever seen.

Almog Hostage Jan Meir
Almog Jan Meir and his family were reunited (IDF)

"The heroic operation by the IDF that freed and brought home Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Andrey Kozlov, and Almog Meir Jan is a miraculous triumph," the statement continues.

"Now, with the joy that is washing over Israel, 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."


"We continue to call upon the international community to apply the necessary pressure on Hamas to accept the proposed deal and release the other 120 hostages held in captivity; every day there is a day too far."

Israeli captive Hugging her father, Noa Argamani can be seen doing so Our father's birthday falls on this day. (IDF)

The hostage rescue operation, which began at about 11 a.m. local time, was described as a "high-risk, complex mission" by Israeli Defense Forces Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari.

"While under fire in the buildings and under fire on the way out from Gaza our forces rescued our hostages," added Hagari. "Israeli forces risked their lives to save our hostages; they have been training for this rescue mission for weeks." In Israel, we operate in this manner.

Israel, he declared, will not give up until all of the hostages are freed. Hagari stated that the four will soon be reunited with their families after being brought to the hospital for a medical examination.

"Now that they're back in Israel,they are doing well and are still alive."