Israeli forces free hostages in largest Gaza rescue operation
"One of the hostages rescued today from the Gaza Strip by the Israeli Defense Forces is Almog Meir Jan, a citizen of Israel and Poland," said the Israeli ambassador to Poland, Ja’akow Liwne, on Saturday. The information from the Middle East was also addressed by the head of the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) freed four Hamas hostages on Saturday. It was the largest rescue operation since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip in October 2023, reported the Associated Press.
Israeli soldiers conducted two parallel airstrikes on Hamas facilities in central Gaza. The rescue operations were carried out as part of activities in the al-Nusairat area.
The rescued hostages are Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrej Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv. Hamas terrorists abducted all four on October 7 from the Supernova music festival near the southern part of Kibbutz Re’im.
The Israeli ambassador to Poland conveyed that one of the freed hostages - Almog Meir Jan - is a citizen of Israel and Poland. "Incredible news!" commented Ja’akow Liwne.
The Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs commented on the information about the freed hostages. "Bravo, IDF. May all the hostages return home, and may a just peace prevail between Israel and Palestine," wrote Radosław Sikorski on social media.
The Israeli army has so far rescued seven hostages
According to preliminary medical examinations, all the rescues were in good condition. They were taken to Tel Hashomer Hospital in Israel for further diagnostics.
Hamas kidnapped around 250 people during the October attack. Almost half were released during a week-long ceasefire in November.
Israel claims that more than 130 hostages remain in the hands of terrorists, about a quarter of whom are considered deceased. Protests are regularly held in the country, calling on the government to increase efforts to free the detained individuals.
