Four freed!

(JNS) - Israeli forces on Saturday rescued four hostages from two separate locations in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip.

During a complex IDF/Border Police/Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) daytime operation in the heart of a crowded residential neighborhood, the forces recovered from Hamas captivity Noa Argamani, 26; Almog Meir Jan, 21; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 40.

A fighter from the Border Police's Yamam National Counter-Terrorism Unit was mortally wounded during the rescue mission.

Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora was rushed to the hospital and shortly thereafter was pronounced dead.

The four hostages were all abducted by Hamas terrorists from the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re'im during the Oct. 7 massacre.

Argamani, a student at the Information Systems Engineering Department at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheva, was five days short of her 26th birthday when she was kidnapped. She had been kept in a different location in the Nuseirat camp, hundreds of yards from where the three male hostages were held.

The freed captives are being monitored at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan's Tel Hashomer neighborhood.

"The entire nation salutes the brave fighters who risked their lives today to save lives. Once again, you have proven that Israel does not surrender to terrorism and acts with creativity and courage that knows no bounds to bring home the hostages," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday.

"We are committed to doing so in the future as well. We will not let up until we complete the mission and return all of the hostages home- both the living and the dead," he added.

Netanyahu also released a video of a phone conversation between him and Argamani.

"How do you feel?" asked the premier.

"I'm very excited," replied Argamani. "I haven't spoken Hebrew in such a long time."

Added Netanyahu: "We did not give up on you for even one moment. I don't know if you believed it, but we did, and I'm happy that it's become a reality."

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said he was "overjoyed" to have the hostages home, adding that the military would "keep fighting" until every captive is returned.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said, "Noa, Shlomi, Almog and Andrey: We waited for you, and we are still waiting for everyone. Everyone."

He expressed appreciation to the security forces for the "bold and brave" operation, calling it "a great light in the terrible darkness."

Israeli authorities also released footage of Argamani, who has become one of the most recognizable Israeli hostages, reuniting with her father after eight months in Hamas captivity.

Noa's mother, Liora, is hospitalized at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center's Ichilov Hospital with terminal brain cancer. Noa was reunited with Liora at the Tel Aviv hospital on Saturday evening.

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum released a statement praising the "heroic operation" to recover the four captives, describing the development as a "miraculous triumph." 

"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," said the forum.

"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 much," it added.

Shortly after the news broke, footage of a lifeguard in Tel Aviv sharing the development amid rapturous applause from bathers went viral.