Israel has rescued alive four hostages from Gaza who were captured by Hamas at the Nova music festival on October 7.
This includes Noa Argamani, 26, who was kidnapped on the back of a motorbike during the horrific terrorist attacks.
An emotional video has appeared on social media in which Noa is reunited with her father, with the couple being filmed hugging and kissing.
The hostages are in good medical condition, the Israeli army (IDF) said.
The other hostages, captured by Hamas during the Nova music festival in October, were named as Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40.
The video of Noa being kidnapped from the back of a motorcycle became symbolic of the horrors faced by civilians at the festival and across southern Israel when violence broke out.
Noa Argamani, 25, was abducted from the back of a motorbike during the horrific terrorist attacks
Noa, who is 26, was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7 and taken to Gaza
Hamas later appeared in a chilling hostage video in January
In a statement, the IDF said: ‘The hostages were rescued by IDF, ISA and ‘Yamam’ forces from two separate locations in the heart of Nuseirat.
“They are in good medical condition and have been transferred to ‘Sheba’ Tel-HaShomer Medical Center for further medical examination.
“The security forces will continue to make every effort to bring the hostages home.”
After Noa was captured in October, she later appeared in a chilling hostage video in January, speaking on camera with fellow prisoners Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38. It was later reported that the two men had been murdered, with Noa being forced to announce their deaths.
Hamas also published a “psychological terror” video on May 31 of what was believed to be the voice of Noa Argamani.
It sparked outrage from her family and campaigners who have called on the government to bring her and the other hostages in Gaza home.
Relatives of hostages react as they walk to a medical center after the army said Israeli forces today rescued four hostages alive from the central Gaza Strip
Noa’s mother Liora Argamani has stage 4 brain cancer and has repeatedly expressed her desire to see her daughter again
Noa was one of only 19 women still held by the terror group
On May 31, Noa’s voice was heard, accompanied by drawings that her family believes were made by the young woman
The voice identified as Noa can be heard saying: ‘I am a prisoner of the Al-Qassam Brigades [the armed wing of Hamas].
‘I have been in captivity for more than 237 days and I don’t know until when.
“I say to the people of Israel: have you become government partners of Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz? Will my fate together with my colleagues be the same as that of Ron Arad?’
Ron Arad was an Israeli pilot who jumped from his plane during a mission over southern Lebanon in 1986 and was taken hostage. Israel has been trying to locate him for decades, but he is now believed dead.
The Argamani family initially released a statement through the Hostages & Missing Families Forum shortly after the video began circulating, asking that it not be broadcast.
But soon after, the forum issued the following statement, allowing the video to be published with the family’s approval.
Sickening footage shows the moment Israeli hostage Noa was seized by Hamas on October 7 and driven to Gaza on the back of a motorcycle (photo)
The chilling video showed Noa surrounded by at least ten armed terrorists (pictured), who can be heard jeering and shouting at her
In the footage published in April, the woman can be heard wailing as she is assaulted by a Palestinian fighter, who holds her head down as he places a black bag over her face (pictured)
This photo of Noa – her arms outstretched to her boyfriend as she screams for help – became one of the most recognizable images of the atrocities after it was published by The Mail on Sunday, October 8.
“After assessing the situation and receiving additional information, the Argamani family authorized the use of a video in which Noa Argamani was heard being held hostage by Hamas,” the report said.
‘Next to Noa’s voice, drawings are shown that the family thinks are scribbles that Noa has drawn.’
The forum statement continued, saying: “125 men and women have been held hostage by Hamas for 238 days. The Israeli government must heed the call and act decisively, without the need for Hamas propaganda videos, to quickly reach an agreement to bring the hostages home!”
Noa’s mother Liora Argamani has stage 4 brain cancer and has repeatedly expressed her desire to see her daughter again.
Late last year, the 61-year-old made a final plea to US President Joe Biden, begging him for the chance to “hug” her daughter “one last time” before she dies.
She said: ‘I am terminally ill and have stage 4 brain cancer.
“The only thing that goes through my mind before I say goodbye to my family forever is the chance to hug my daughter, my only child, one last time.
‘My daughter Noa is an infectiously happy and resilient young woman.
“She loves to dance, loves music and enjoys being with her friends and family.”
In March, she once again pleased the president, saying in a video message: “My heart really hurts. On the one hand it’s physical, it doesn’t work as it should. On the other hand, because my daughter is a hostage.
“Since the kidnapping, when I see her looking in this photo, it chokes me up.
‘How beautiful she is, how wonderful she is. I want to see [my daughter] again. Talk to her again,” she begged.
“I ask you, President Joe Biden, I don’t have much time left in this world. It can be my dying wish, I truly beg you.”
The young woman was among more than a hundred people believed to be still being held hostage in Gaza. She is one of only 19 women still held by the terror group.
Some of the survivors released from Gaza during the November hostage crisis and ceasefire have described being tortured, sexually abused and starved in captivity.