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Israeli forces say 4 hostages rescued from Gaza; Biden praises rescue: live updates

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Israeli forces say 4 hostages rescued from Gaza; Biden praises rescue: live updates

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Israel’s military and security services rescued four hostages alive from two separate locations in the central Gaza area of al-Nuseirat on Saturday, in what was described as a complex daytime operation.

The four hostages, three men and one woman, were kidnapped by Hamas-led militants from the Nova music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7 last year. They were identified by Israel’s Defense Forces as Noa Argamani, 26; Almog Meir Jan, 22; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 41.

The military said they appeared to be in good health and were being taken to a hospital for further health checks.

“They are back home in Israel. They are alive. They are well,” IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari said in a briefing.

U.S. President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday celebrated the rescue of the hostages. Biden said the U.S. will continue working toward a cease-fire deal and the freeing of all hostages.

All four hostages were taken captive by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, when about 1,200 Israeli civilians were killed and an estimated over 250 were taken hostage. Israeli authorities estimate about 116 of the hostages are left in Gaza, 40 of whom are believed dead.

In the devastating siege by Israel’s military on Gaza that followed, over 36,800 Palestinians have been killed and 83,680 have been injured, the health ministry in Gaza said Saturday, including dozens who were killed and injured in the last day.

PARIS – Biden and Macron welcomed the news of the hostages’ rescue Saturday.

“We won’t stop working until all of the hostages come home and a cease-fire is reached. It’s essential,” Biden said at a joint appearance with the French leader from Paris.

Macron also lauded the hostage rescue and called for a permanent political solution to the war in Gaza, which he said is the only way to achieve a lasting peace and security.

Biden is in the fourth day of a five-day trip to France, where he attended ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

–Michael Collins

Israeli strikes on the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Saturday killed at least 210 Palestinians and injured 400 others, a Hamas-run government media office said in a statement.

It wasn’t immediately clear if the air offensive was part of the same operation that freed four hostages; both took place in the same area in Gaza. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the rescue operation happened under fire. Officials said an Israeli commanding officer was killed.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced a three-phase cease-fire deal last week that he said was proposed by Israel.

The first phase would see Israel’s military withdraw from densely populated civilian areas in Gaza. Hamas would release an unspecified number of hostages along with the remains of killed hostages, and Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Biden said American hostages would also be included in this phase.

Hamas would then release all the remaining hostages in the second phase of the deal and Israel would withdraw from Gaza. The third phase would start reconstruction of Gaza.

After Biden’s announcement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has offered mixed signals regarding the proposal and Hamas said the deal that was relayed to them by mediators did not exactly match what Biden announced. Since then, the White House has heavily pushed for both parties to accept the deal.

On Saturday, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh said the group will accept no deal that does not achieve security for Palestinians.

Argamani was one of several hostages kidnapped from the Nova music festival in southern Israel when Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7. 

Argamani became one of the most prominent faces of the many hostages in Hamas captivity after the video of her abduction went viral across social media, showing her being driven away on the back of a motorcycle while reaching out to her boyfriend, Avinatan Or. Or is also believed to be among the hostages held in Gaza.

The Nova music festival was one of several targets when Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7. The festival, attended by thousands, became the site of one of the worst civilian massacres in Israel.

Israeli News 12 broadcast footage of Argamani reuniting with her father — smiling and embracing him. Video of Argamani’s kidnapping had circulated soon after she was dragged into Gaza by gunmen on Oct. 7.

Hagari said preparations for the rescue operation took place over several weeks. But approval for the mission was only given a few days ago. He said Israeli forces conducted the rescue while coming under fire from Hamas.

The Israeli Defense force rescued four hostages alive in a rescue operation conducted in a central area of Gaza, according to the IDF. The hostages were kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 when militants attacked the Nova music festival in southern Israel. The IDF identified the hostages as:

  • Noa Argamani, 26
  • Almog Meir Jan, 22
  • Andrey Kozlov, 27
  • Shlomi Ziv, 41

Contributing: Reuters

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