Israel police release video of hostage Noa Argamani’s rescue

The helmet camera footage shows members of a counter-terrorism unit storming an apartment in Nuseirat, assuring Noa Argamani: ‘You’re safe.’

Noa Argamani, her father and one of her rescuers after she was extricated from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip. Picture: AFP.

The Israeli police has released new video footage of the rescue of hostage Noa Argamani from her Hamas captors in the Gaza Strip recently.

The helmet camera footage shows members of the elite Yamam counter-terrorism unit storming an apartment in the Nuseirat refugee camp, assuring the 26 year old hostage: “We’re taking you home.”

Noa, 26, became one of Israel’s most recognisable hostages after a clip of her kidnapping was circulated on social media, showing her begging not to be killed as she is taken away on a motorbike.

She was rescued along with three other hostages from two apartment blocks earlier this month.

In the footage, an officer is heard telling the young hostage: “Everything is okay, Noa, we are taking you home.

“You’re safe, we’re taking you to the vehicle.”

Once the commandos have Noa safely in the vehicle, she is told: “We are a group from the Yamam and the Shin Bet, we’re taking you home, we are very excited that you’re here, and we’re proud of you.”

Argamani is heard saying: “I am very excited, just very scared about the journey,” The Times of Israel reports.

I honestly can't believe my eyes, this is better than any action movie.
@israelpolice just released more footage from operation 'Arnon' including interviews with the Yamam operators.

The first question Noa asked - "is my mother still alive?"

Translated and subtitled by me pic.twitter.com/ahOugHgF6r

— Yaari Cohen (@YaariCohen) June 15, 2024

In a consequent interview with three of the commandos, one says Noa’s first question was whether her mother – who has stage four brain cancer – was still alive.

“We told her, ‘Yes, that’s why we came, to bring you back to your mother’,” he replies.

Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrei Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41 were also extracted after a fierce fire right with Hamas militants, as the Israeli air force and Southern Command provided air cover.

The three men have since described the ordeal of their captivity, including being punished for not following their captors’ strict rules, including having blankets on them during the hot summer and repeatedly being threatened with death.