Hostage freed from Gaza speaks out against hate
After 246 days in the grip of Hamas, freed hostage Noa Argamani delivers a heartfelt video message. The 26-year-old calls for an end to hate and urges peaceful days filled with family, friends, and good people.
The recently freed Israeli hostage Noa Argamani, in an emotional video message, called for an end to hatred in her speech at a large rally in Israel's coastal city of Tel Aviv. "We all wish for peaceful, quiet days, surrounded by family, friends, and good people. The most important thing is that we learn to love and not to hate," the 26-year-old said in the video that was played in the evening.
"Although I am back home, we cannot forget the hostages who are still held captive by Hamas," Argamani added. "We must do everything possible to bring them home."
Argamani and three other hostages were freed three weeks ago during an Israeli military operation in the contested Gaza Strip. The plight of the young woman, who was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival in Israel and taken to the neighboring coastal area, garnered worldwide sympathy. Footage of her being abducted on a motorbike, crying and pleading for help, has circulated on social media for months. The friend of the student is still being held captive by Hamas. Approximately 120 hostages are believed to be held in the Gaza Strip, many of whom may already be dead.
Fluent in Arabic
According to reports from the Hamas-controlled health authority, 274 Palestinians were killed during the rescue operation for Argamani and the other three hostages. A spokesperson for the Israeli army spoke of fewer than 100 deaths.
Argamani expressed her gratitude to her rescuers in the video. According to Israeli media reports, the Israeli learned fluent Arabic during her time as a hostage. She became a sort of "representative" for other female hostages with whom she had been briefly held captive. Since her release after 246 days in captivity, Argamani has been actively involved in caring for her ailing mother, who is from China, according to recent media reports.
In light of the recent hostage release, political tensions between Hamas and Israel continue to escalate over the captivity of remaining hostages. Argamani, now fluent in Arabic due to her ordeal, has become a vocal advocate for peace and the safe return of all hostages. The Israeli war in Gaza has resulted in a significant loss of life, with conflicting reports of casualties from both the Hamas-controlled health authority and the Israeli army.
