Noa Argamani – www.israelhayom.com https://www.israelhayom.com israelhayom english website Fri, 12 Dec 2025 18:05:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://www.israelhayom.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cropped-G_rTskDu_400x400-32x32.jpg Noa Argamani – www.israelhayom.com https://www.israelhayom.com 32 32 Nvidia founder meets former hostage employee https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/12/12/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-reunites-hostage-survivor-avinatan-or/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/12/12/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-reunites-hostage-survivor-avinatan-or/#respond Fri, 12 Dec 2025 06:00:05 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1109415 Nvidia engineer Avinatan Or and his partner Noa Argamani, both hostage survivors, met CEO Jensen Huang at the company's US headquarters Thursday in an emotional reunion.

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At Nvidia's Silicon Valley headquarters, one of the tech industry's most powerful figures embraced an engineer who survived 428 days in Hamas captivity. Avinatan Or and his partner, Noa Argamani, met Thursday evening for the first time since Or's return from captivity, with Nvidia CEO and founder Jensen Huang, at the company where Or works as an engineer.

The meeting was organized by Amit Krig, senior vice president and head of Nvidia's development center in Israel. The emotional gathering at the company's US headquarters included the Israeli management team, who were at headquarters for professional meetings.

Avinatan Or and his partner, Noa Argamani, met Thursday evening for the first time since Or's return from captivity, with Nvidia CEO and founder Jensen Huang (Photo: Nvidia)

During the meeting, Jensen Huang, CEO of chip giant Nvidia and one of the most prominent and admired figures in global tech in recent years, who heard about the abduction on October 7 and was involved in the details, wished him and hostage survivor Noa Argamani "to see the whole world."

Nvidia Israel's legal counsel and vice president of human resources, Gideon Rosenberg, attended the rallies in Hostages Square every Saturday night for the release of the hostages. He said that "Jensen is a very empathetic person. When I told him about Avinatan's abduction, he immediately responded and informed all the company's employees worldwide that their colleague had been kidnapped. There are no words to describe what he did from that moment to help."

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Why Nvidia exec became hostage families' voice https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/12/02/nvidia-executive-hostage-families-avinatan-or/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/12/02/nvidia-executive-hostage-families-avinatan-or/#respond Tue, 02 Dec 2025 07:00:16 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1106917 Gideon Rosenberg, Nvidia Israel's VP of HR and General Counsel, transformed from corporate executive to hostage advocate after employee Avinatan Or was kidnapped to Gaza, leading Saturday night rallies while building one of tech's hottest companies.

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Senior vice presidents at tech companies are usually not particularly well-known to the public, even if they are senior executives at the Israeli branch of one of the world's largest companies, valued at an estimated $4.5 trillion. However, the face and voice of Gideon Rosenberg, Deputy General Counsel and Head of Human Resources for NVIDIA in Israel, have been recognized by tens of thousands of participants at rallies in Tel Aviv's Museum Square every Saturday night, and the thousands who took part in marches to Jerusalem for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. He has been there every time, on stage and at the head of the convoy, always with a megaphone in hand and his voice thundering, "All of them. Now."

"I was never a political person," he said in an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom. "Before October 7, I never led a convoy and never spoke at a demonstration. I volunteered in parent leadership at the kids' school and tried to do good in general, but I wasn't involved in this kind of activity – until they kidnapped my employee, until I discovered that Avinatan was in Gaza."

Like so many stories worth telling these days, Rosenberg's also begins in the early morning hours of that cursed Saturday. "Right after I understood the dimensions of the event, I realized it would also affect our employees," he said. "Nvidia has more than 5,000 employees in Israel, many of whom live and work in the south, and we started trying to find out what was happening with them."

Deputy General Counsel and Head of Human Resources for NVIDIA in Israel Gideon Rosenberg (Photo: Yehoshua Yosef) Yehoshua Yosef

Within a few hours, the chilling video of the abduction of Avinatan Or, an engineer at Nvidia, and his partner Noa Argamani from the Nova Festival spread, becoming one of the unforgettable icons of that terrible day. "I asked employees who knew Avinatan, 'Are you sure that's him?' I didn't know him personally before this and in addition to all this difficult event, I also felt uncomfortable that I couldn't identify an employee of the company, even if we have thousands of employees in the country. So we checked again and again until we were sure it was him – and then I wrote a personal message to Jensen."

Jensen is of course Jensen Huang, CEO of chip giant Nvidia and one of the central and admired figures in global tech in recent years. Rosenberg wrote to him that Or had been abducted to Gaza and also updated him that Daniel Waldman, daughter of Eyal Waldman, one of the founders of Mellanox (the Israeli technology company acquired by Nvidia in 2020 for about $7 billion), had been murdered along with her partner Noam Shay – both had worked for the company in the past.

"Jensen is a very empathetic person, anyone who has met him or follows him knows that. He immediately responded and informed all the company's employees worldwide that their colleague had been kidnapped. There are no words to describe what he has done since that moment to help," Rosenberg recalled. "Within a short time, I made contact with Avinatan's brother and offered him my help, both as a manager at the company and simply as a human being who cares. The family decided to show up at the Begin Gate of the Kirya with pictures of Avinatan, and I met them there. To get to know them and to support them. I didn't know it would become a regular meeting and such an important part of my life for more than two years."

Rosenberg (49, a Tel Aviv resident) said that from that moment, things happened quickly. He sent a message to company employees, inviting them to accompany family members to Begin Gate; arranged to print shirts and signs with Or's portrait and a call to bring him home; and promised to help them with whatever they needed.

"We were always there with them in the evening, from seven to nine, in sirens and missiles, and all this time we also had to take care of other employees who were affected, evacuated from home, or who lost family members and friends," he said. "It was a difficult and somewhat crazy routine. Nvidia had five employees whose family members were kidnapped to Gaza, and some were murdered there, and we even recruited new employees over time who also have relatives who are hostages. In addition, employees lost brothers and friends in the war, and company employee Amit Chayut fell in battle. We understood that we had to do everything we could to help them. It was clear to me that this was my most important mission and that of the company."

Deputy General Counsel and Head of Human Resources for NVIDIA in Israel Gideon Rosenberg (Photo: Yehoshua Yosef)

"Gradual rise until explosion"

The war caught Nvidia Israel at the height of an intensive growth process, which Rosenberg, a lawyer by training, closely accompanied, witnessed, and partnered in one of the most amazing success stories in tech. He began his career in Mellanox's legal department 15 years ago, when the company employed only about 400 employees, mainly at its offices in Yokneam, but also at other development centers in Israel, in the Palestinian Authority territories, and even in Gaza, where Palestinian employees continued to work even after the company was sold to Nvidia.

"The sale to an American company on a much larger scale and with a different organizational culture required many adjustments from us," he said. "Nvidia decided to keep all the employees in Israel, because it wasn't just interested in Mellanox's technology, mainly data center connectivity, which expanded Nvidia's product portfolio, but in its people. I supported the deal on the legal side, and later I also became VP of Human Resources. At that time, only about 2,000 employees worked at the company, and within a few years, we grew by 2.5 times, with the major recruitment period occurring mostly in parallel with the war."

These years have been dramatic not only for Nvidia itself, but for the entire tech world. "I remember the pivotal day when they announced OpenAI's ChatGPT, exactly three years ago," Rosenberg said. "We all at the company understood that something had fallen, that the AI field was really breaking through, as we hoped would happen. This, of course, didn't happen in one day. The company built itself toward this moment. OpenAI worked with Mellanox on the technology back then, and we knew how important our products were for the AI era. It was a gradual rise until explosion – and when it happened, it happened fast and in big leaps, and it was important to preserve the organization's identity."

Media members surround Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang after the opening ceremony for the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, China July 16, 2025 (Photo: Reuters/Florence Lo) REUTERS

"Nvidia's DNA is excellence. Pushing for achievements in every field – technology, operations, sales, and more. The idea is to work as part of a team and with shared responsibility and purpose. This is an ethos that Israelis can easily connect to. The company also encourages dialogue and expression of opinion, and expects smart people to challenge the system. Employees understand the importance of Israel in Nvidia's activity, and there is enormous pride in being part of its success. Jensen himself also makes a point of noting this on many occasions," he added.

Recently, Nvidia won the title of "The Best Company to Work for in Israel" for the second consecutive time, in a ranking based on a Dun & Bradstreet survey of tens of thousands of employees at tech companies in Israel. The survey examined satisfaction across a variety of areas: advancement opportunities and professional development, work-life balance, work environment, sense of diversity and inclusion, level of compensation and employment conditions, quality of management and relationship with direct managers, and overall organizational culture.

"Satisfaction is not just good conditions," Rosenberg explained. "Money is, of course, important and critical – salary, stocks, financial horizon – but a leading company needs to create satisfaction and interest and security for employees. From the CEO to the most junior manager, it's clear to everyone that we need to ensure our employees have it good and that they will want to continue working with us – and we invest a lot in this."

Deputy General Counsel and Head of Human Resources for NVIDIA in Israel Gideon Rosenberg (Photo: Uriel Even Sapir) Uriel Even Sapir

"I simply didn't want them to be alone"

According to Rosenberg, this concern for his employee led him to join the first march for the hostages in November 2023. "I arrived there as a citizen and as someone who has a kidnapped employee. I told the organizers I wanted to help, and suddenly someone gave me a megaphone and told me to navigate the convoy – to make sure they walked at a uniform, slow pace and in an orderly line – maybe just because I have a loud voice. It was a very powerful event, with public resonance, and I decided to continue acting. I showed up for 'my shift' with Avinatan's family, came to the square to meet the other families, and became more and more involved in the activity for the hostages and especially their families."

Rosenberg became one of the leaders of the struggle and a regular host of Saturday night rallies. "It wasn't a political matter for me," he emphasized. "I simply didn't want the families to be alone, and I wanted so much to bring Avinatan home."

Or continued to be an employee of the company the entire time, even if he ultimately spent more time in Hamas captivity than as a company employee before he was kidnapped. "He received his salary and his stocks. He is still our employee, and we continue to help him and the family with everything they need," Rosenberg said. "This was always the company's message, and it always came from the top, from senior management abroad. Jensen met with the family and continued to correspond regularly with them. He spoke about Avinatan at internal company events and also in public appearances."

"On October 7, I didn't have a 'playbook' that says what to do if a company employee is kidnapped. We didn't know how to deal with something like this, but I hope I did the right things along the way. I also have no idea if anything I did somehow helped bring Avinatan home, but I tried to give his family as much strength as possible, because they were in a very lonely and difficult place."

The Nvidia logo is displayed on a sign at the Nvidia headquarters on February 26, 2025 in Santa Clara, California (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP) Getty Images via AFP

"Suddenly he was three-dimensional"

On October 13, 2025, Or was released from Hamas captivity as part of the third hostage deal with the terror organization. "The meeting with him at the hospital was surreal," Rosenberg recalled. "Suddenly, he was three-dimensional, a real person. Until then, he was just a picture and a name. I knew so many things about him, almost everything, and certainly much more than any employee wants his manager to know about him, but we actually never met. I knew his family much better than him, and it was strange and wonderful."

"Today we talk, correspond on WhatsApp, and meet occasionally. It's amazing and moving that we got to this. He is on the path to health, and he is strengthening and rehabilitating, and I am very happy that I got to know him and that I got to see his father smile for the first time after those long and terrible two years," he added. "Everyone had such a hard time during this period – I also had a hard time balancing between regular life, work, family, and activity for others. I know I'm not special in this, but it was important to me that my children and other people see that it's possible and worthwhile to do this. It was important to me to set such a personal example – and when you see the amazing change that has occurred in the family since the hostages returned home – it's really worth everything."

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Noa Argamani arrives on red carpet in symbolic yellow gown https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/04/27/noa-argamani-arrives-on-red-carpet-in-symbolic-yellow-gown/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/04/27/noa-argamani-arrives-on-red-carpet-in-symbolic-yellow-gown/#respond Sun, 27 Apr 2025 06:00:28 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1053235   Hostage survivor Noa Argamani has become one of the most prominent figures in Israel and around the world in recent months, using her public platform to convey one clear message – the return of all hostages home. 27-year-old Argamani received prestigious recognition when she was included in TIME magazine's list of the 100 most […]

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Hostage survivor Noa Argamani has become one of the most prominent figures in Israel and around the world in recent months, using her public platform to convey one clear message – the return of all hostages home. 27-year-old Argamani received prestigious recognition when she was included in TIME magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

On Saturday night, at the magazine's glamorous gala in New York, Argamani appeared on the red carpet in a stunning yellow maxi dress, designed by Israeli designer Eli Tala. The dress was sewn in just three days before her flight to New York, and Argamani managed to convey a powerful and important message in an elegant and dignified way. The choice of yellow is not coincidental, of course. It's the color that has become the global symbol for the struggle to return all hostages, including Argamani's partner, Avinatan Or, who has been held captive by Hamas for 569 days.

"It's my honor to be part of such significant representation and to design for you, Noa, a symbolic dress that represents the return of our hostages for 567 days now. I'm proud of you and sure that an entire country feels like me about you being chosen as one of the 100 most influential people in the world and walking the red carpet of TIME magazine," Tala wrote.

Noa Argamani attends the 2025 Time100 Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2025 in New York City (Photo: Cindy Ord / Getty Images/AP) Getty Images via AFP

The dress, in an elegant one-shoulder design, was made of satin fabric in a soft, refined yellow shade that shimmered under the camera flashes. The dress cut was classic A-style – fitted at the top and gradually widening toward the skirt, creating a flowing and sophisticated look. The meticulous design of the draping and folds gave the dress a luxurious and unforgettable appearance.

Argamani's participation in this prestigious event places her alongside other distinguished individuals included in the list, among them US President Donald Trump, Argentine President Javier Milei, billionaire Elon Musk, and Hollywood stars like Scarlett Johansson and Blake Lively.

The TIME100 gala is one of the most prestigious events on New York's calendar, bringing together icons, leaders, and influencers from all industries around the world for an evening of dialogue and celebration. For Argamani, it was another opportunity to remind the world that the struggle to return the hostages continues, and that those still in captivity must not be forgotten.

While we've become accustomed to seeing Argamani in simple and modest appearances in recent months, her impressive and elegant appearance on the red carpet conveyed a clear message of determination, strength, and hope – values that have become symbolic of the struggle to bring the hostages home.

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WATCH: Rescued hostage Noa Argamani exposes Hamas brutality at UN Security Council briefing https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/02/25/watch-rescued-hostage-noa-argamani-exposes-hamas-brutality-at-un-security-council-briefing/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/02/25/watch-rescued-hostage-noa-argamani-exposes-hamas-brutality-at-un-security-council-briefing/#respond Tue, 25 Feb 2025 11:25:41 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=1038777 During a briefing to the UN Security Council held on Tuesday, Noa Argamani, who was rescued from Gaza in a military operation last June, addressed the council. In her remarks, she described the moments of her kidnapping and her time in captivity. "During my time in captivity, I was held with two small girls. I […]

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During a briefing to the UN Security Council held on Tuesday, Noa Argamani, who was rescued from Gaza in a military operation last June, addressed the council. In her remarks, she described the moments of her kidnapping and her time in captivity. "During my time in captivity, I was held with two small girls. I saw the fear in their eyes. I had to be strong for them."

Argamani began her remarks by recounting her abduction. "I was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7 from the Nova Festival along with my boyfriend, Avinatan Or. We were taken by force, separated, and entered hell on earth. I held Avinatan's hand as long as I could, but in one moment of terror – we were torn apart from each other and dragged into the unknown."

Video: Noa Argamani speaks the UN

Argamani emphasized the critical time remaining for the hostages still in captivity. "We have no more time! I am here today because it's a miracle, but there are still 63 hostages living this nightmare. They are in complete darkness, not knowing if they will live or die in the next moment. Every moment that passes is an eternity of suffering. We are talking about innocent people who were kidnapped from their beds, from a dance party, from their simple lives – and taken to a world of torture and humiliation. Hamas treated us like pieces in a cruel game, driven by sheer cruelty."

"You don't need me to tell you about a 9-month-old baby, Kfir, and his 4-year-old brother, Ariel Bibas, and their mother Shiri. A mother and her infants – brutally murdered in captivity. They didn't die in battle. They weren't fighters. They were tender children, whose blood was spilled with unimaginable brutality. This is Hamas – an organization that crushes babies with its hands and celebrates death."

During her remarks, she also described her period in captivity. In Gaza, she was held with several different hostages. "During my time in Gaza, I was held with two young girls – Hila Rotem and Emily Hand. At that time, Emily was 8 years old, and Hila was 12. I saw the fear in their eyes, the trembling in their bodies. I had to be strong for them, to hide the horrors so they could survive another day." Hand and Hila were returned as part of the hostage deal in November 2023, Argamani was with Yossi Sharabi and Itai Svirsky, whose bodies are still being held in Gaza.

"One evening, the house where we were being held was bombed, and we found ourselves buried under the rubble. Itai managed to get up, but Yossi and I were trapped beneath piles of concrete. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. I was drawn into darkness and thought this was it, these were the last seconds of my life. I screamed with all my might for someone to hear me, and I also heard Yossi's screams. Screams of pain, of pleading, of a person trapped between life and death. And then, after a few seconds, I heard only silence. Yossi died next to me, alone, helpless."

Noa Argamani abducted by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023 (Reuters) Reuters /

Two days after Yossi's death, the terrorists killed Itai. "He was brutally murdered by our captors," she recounts. "He was with me from the first day of captivity. We talked about our families, about the lives we left behind. He was a pure soul. And now he is gone."

Argamani again emphasized the necessity for the international community to understand the suffering of the hostages. "The international community must understand: Our hostages are living in hell on earth. They have no time! They have no hope without action. They must return home now! What kept me alive in captivity and until now, is something my mother always told me: Always be good, always hold onto the light. So here, in this forum, I will end with these words: Be good. But more than that, be just. Act now. Bring them – all of them – home now."

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Liora Argamani, mother of Noa who was held captive in Gaza for 246 days, dies from cancer https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/07/02/liora-argamani-whose-daughter-noa-was-held-captive-in-gaza-for-246-days-succumbs-to-brain-cancer/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/07/02/liora-argamani-whose-daughter-noa-was-held-captive-in-gaza-for-246-days-succumbs-to-brain-cancer/#respond Tue, 02 Jul 2024 03:00:40 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=970079   Liora Argamani, whose daughter Noa was held captive in Gaza for 246 days following the October 7 Hamas atrocities attack, died Tuesday after a prolonged battle with brain cancer. Argamani's final wish – to see her daughter one last time – was granted just three weeks before her passing after Israeli forces rescued Noa […]

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Liora Argamani, whose daughter Noa was held captive in Gaza for 246 days following the October 7 Hamas atrocities attack, died Tuesday after a prolonged battle with brain cancer. Argamani's final wish – to see her daughter one last time – was granted just three weeks before her passing after Israeli forces rescued Noa in a daring raid to free 4 Israeli hostages in Gaza in early June, marking a poignant end to a story that captivated Israel and the world.

The 61-year-old nurse, who had traversed continents in pursuit of a dream, found her final solace in the arms of her daughter Noa – a young woman whose 246-day ordeal as a hostage in Gaza had become emblematic of a nation's anguish.

"Liora spent her final days alongside her daughter Noa, who had returned from captivity, and her close family," the hospital said in a statement that seemed to capture both relief and sorrow in equal measure. The family's request for privacy underscored the deeply personal nature of their loss, even as it played out on an international stage.

The story of the Argamanis is one of stark contrasts – of joy and despair, of reunion and separation. Liora, born in the bustling city of Wuhan, China, had come to Israel in 1994 for what was meant to be a brief professional sojourn. Instead, she found love in the desert city of Beer Sheva, marrying Yaakov and giving birth to their only child, Noa.

Noa Argamani, 26, was among the approximately 240 people taken hostage when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7. She was attending the Nova music festival near the Gaza border when the attack occurred, an event that has since become synonymous with the tragedy of that day.

For 246 days, as negotiations for hostage releases ebbed and flowed, Liora Argamani's condition deteriorated. Her plea became a rallying cry for many Israelis, who saw in her story the human toll of the ongoing crisis.

It was Noa who became the center of a national vigil after her abduction from the Nova music festival on that fateful October day. As the weeks turned to months, Liora's private battle with cancer became inextricably linked with the public campaign for her daughter's release.

In a video that would later be seen by millions, Liora made a heartrending appeal. "I'm now a cancer patient, brain cancer. I don't know how much time I have left," she said, her eyes reflecting a mixture of determination and despair. "I want to be able to see my Noa at home."

Her words, directed at world leaders and humanitarian organizations, carried the weight of a mother's love – a force that seemed to transcend the boundaries of politics and conflict. "Noa, I want to tell you, if I don't see you - know that I love you the most," Liora said, her voice breaking with emotion. "The whole world loves you."

At a rally marking 100 days of captivity, Liora's frail form belied her inner strength as she addressed a sea of supporters. "Noa has been in Hamas captivity for 100 days, and I don't understand how this can be," she said, her words a mixture of gratitude for public support and incomprehension at the ongoing ordeal.

The long-awaited reunion came in the twilight of Liora's life. Noa, along with three other hostages, was finally released. The moment they shared – a wordless embrace in a hospital room – became a powerful symbol of closure, not just for the Argamani family, but for a nation scarred by conflict.

Amnon Regev, Noa's cousin, captured the bittersweetness of the moment in an interview. "Noa can't communicate with Liora, but she said she wanted one last hug, and I think she got it," he said. "This is her victory and all of ours."

As news of Liora's passing spread, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a statement that seemed to encapsulate the complex emotions of the moment. "We bow our heads in deep sorrow," it read, acknowledging both the personal loss and the broader context of ongoing captivity for others.

In the end, Liora Argamani's story is more than a footnote in a larger conflict. It is a reminder of the human cost of war, the strength found in adversity, and the enduring power of a mother's love. In her final days, Liora achieved her heart's desire – to hold her daughter once more. In doing so, she provided a moment of catharsis for a nation in need of healing.

As Israel mourns Liora Argamani, her legacy serves as a poignant reminder of the personal tragedies that often unfold in the shadow of geopolitical strife. In life and in death, she embodied the resilience of the human spirit – a beacon of hope in troubled times.

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Noa Argamani moves nation in first public address since rescue from captivity https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/06/30/noa-argamani-moves-nation-in-first-public-address-since-rescue-from-captivity/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/06/30/noa-argamani-moves-nation-in-first-public-address-since-rescue-from-captivity/#respond Sun, 30 Jun 2024 01:00:13 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=969145   Noa Argamani, recently freed from Hamas captivity, has spoken publicly for the first time since her release, touching hearts across Israel. In a video message played at a rally marking 267 days since the Oct. Hamas onslaught, Argamani expressed her deep concern for her parents during her ordeal and conveyed gratitude for the overwhelming […]

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Noa Argamani, recently freed from Hamas captivity, has spoken publicly for the first time since her release, touching hearts across Israel. In a video message played at a rally marking 267 days since the Oct. Hamas onslaught, Argamani expressed her deep concern for her parents during her ordeal and conveyed gratitude for the overwhelming support her family received.

The families of the hostages gathered Saturday evening for a rally that opened with a recorded video of Argamani, who was freed in a military operation on June 8 along with three other captives: Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv.

Video: Noa Argamani speaks for the first time since being rescued / Hostages and Missing Families Forum

"I am Noa Argamani. I was taken to Gaza on Oct. 7. Hamas held me for eight months until security forces rescued me on June 8," Argamani began. "As an only child with a mother facing a terminal illness, my greatest worry during captivity was for my parents. After 246 days in Hamas captivity, it's a profound privilege to be here, to be near my mother after eight months of uncertainty, and to see my parents surrounded by so much support."

Argamani expressed heartfelt gratitude to the security forces responsible for her rescue, specifically acknowledging the sacrifice of the Yamamnational counter-terrorism unit fighter Arnon Zmora, who lost his life during the operation. "I extend my thanks to our security forces and army – the soldiers, reservists, and everyone who participated in the rescue, risking their lives for my return. My heart goes out to Arnon Zmora's family. He fell during the operation that freed me and three others. Arnon is a hero of Israel; we are here because of him."

She continued, "I'm deeply grateful to my family, friends, and all who amplified our voices when we couldn't speak. To everyone who supported my family and gave of themselves during this long ordeal – it's deeply moving to return home and learn of all the good people who helped. I must use this platform to remind everyone that 120 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, including my partner, Avinathan Or, from whom I was separated at the moment of capture."

Noa Argamani concluded with a poignant commitment to those still held captive. "Though I'm home now, I can't forget those who remain in Hamas captivity. We must do everything possible to bring them back. I wish for quieter days ahead for all of us, surrounded by family, friends, and good people. Most importantly, may we learn to love rather than hate."

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How Hamas keeps hostages in the heart of Gaza, alongside families, children https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/06/14/this-ow-hamas-keeps-hostages-in-the-heart-of-gaza-alongside-families-and-children/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/06/14/this-ow-hamas-keeps-hostages-in-the-heart-of-gaza-alongside-families-and-children/#respond Fri, 14 Jun 2024 03:00:10 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=963905   Abdel Rahman Al Jamal, a 63-year-old veteran of the Gaza legislative council, is deeply entrenched in Hamas' apparatus and has played a central role in the recent hostage crisis. In his book "Lexicon of the Hamas Movement," Guy Aviad, an expert in Palestinian terror organizations and Israel's military history, says Al Jamal was born […]

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Abdel Rahman Al Jamal, a 63-year-old veteran of the Gaza legislative council, is deeply entrenched in Hamas' apparatus and has played a central role in the recent hostage crisis. In his book "Lexicon of the Hamas Movement," Guy Aviad, an expert in Palestinian terror organizations and Israel's military history, says Al Jamal was born in the Nuseirat refugee camp, Al Jamal began as a student of Islamic law before earning a doctorate and eventually serving as the dean of religious studies at Gaza's Islamic College. 

Video: Hostage rescue operation in Nuseirat refugee camp / Credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

While not an official member of Hamas' military wing, Al Jamal stands accused of coordinating terrorist attacks by the wing against Egyptian forces in Sinai after meeting with the movement's leader Khaled Mashaal, according to an Egyptian indictment. His extended family, closely tied to the Hamas regime, is a wealthy clan owning several properties in Nuseirat, including the home where three of the four Israeli hostages rescued on Saturday were held captive for months.

The Al Jamal family's civilian hideout

One of the homes belonging to Al Jamal's clan became the place of captivity for Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv. The house is owned by a relative, Abdullah, a former journalist for the Hamas-affiliated Palestine Now news agency who had articles published in Al Jazeera. Abdullah's 74-year-old father, Ahmed Youssef, previously served as a senior adviser to former Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and maintains ties to the current leadership, illustrating the family's prestige and connections within the regime.

For half a year, Hamas terrorists took over the upper floor of this spacious Al Jamal family home in Nuseirat, holding the three hostages under armed guard. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, the captives were confined to a single room with thin mattresses to sleep on, passing time playing cards and learning Arabic. Kozlov, a recent Russian immigrant to Israel, also learned Hebrew. Access to television was rare, and any violation of the strict rules imposed by their captors resulted in punishment, including confinement in the bathroom or threats of execution.

Shockingly, throughout this ordeal, the Al Jamal family members, children included, continued residing on the lower floor of the house where the kitchen was located. On one occasion when the family left, the hostages were permitted to use the kitchen facilities. When IDF forces eventually stormed the home to free the captives, Abdullah, his father, and wife were killed in the operation. 

Andrey Kozlov arrives in Israel after being rescued by the IDF from Hamas captivity, June 8, 2024 (Reuters/Marko Djurica) Reuters/Marko Djurica

An IDF statement following the raid highlighted how "the hostages were held alongside Abdullah's family members in his family's home," condemning it as "further evidence that the Hamas terror organization uses the civilian population as human shields."

This tactic extended to Noa Argamani, another hostage rescued from an apartment merely 200 meters away from the Al Jamal residence. Images of the room where she was held, circulated on Arab social media, revealed a closet, bed, and two dolls – small comforts amid the harsh conditions she endured while confined for months and forced to remain silent to avoid angering her captors. Argamani later stated the house belonged to a wealthy Nuseirat family who told her she was fortunate to be held by them rather than others, suggesting the Al Jamal clan may have been involved in that holding location as well.

Hamas' widespread civilian hideout network

The Al Jamal clan's role in the hostage crisis exemplifies how Hamas cynically exploits Gaza's civilian population to further its military objectives. While the terror group's indiscriminate use of human shields is well-documented, the recent hostage crisis reveals a new depth of depravity in embedding captives within civilian homes and neighborhoods.

As captives have been freed or rescued, their testimonies, coupled with insights from security officials and analysts, have gradually exposed Hamas' modus operandi of concealing hostages at the heart of Gaza's civil society. The operation's success, despite Israel's lacking a physical intelligence presence in Gaza for two decades, underscores the terrorist group's effectiveness in this regard – at least initially.

Hostages reported being shuttled between various hideout apartments during their captivity, occasionally transported in ambulances or disguised in traditional Arab attire to avoid detection. Argamani recounted encountering other captives like Itay Svirsky and Yossi Sharabi, who were murdered in captivity, during these transfers. Meir Jan corroborated that he, Kozlov, and Ziv were repeatedly moved between hiding apartments by their Hamas captors.

Released hostage Almog Meir Jan arrives in Israel after being rescued from Hamas captivity, June 8, 2024 (Reuters/Marko Djurica) Reuters/Marko Djurica

Some hostages, like the Marman and Limberg families abducted from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak, were held in vacant apartments with no residing families. Mia Limberg, 17, held in Gaza for 53 days, described being kept on the second floor of a Rafah home that had been evacuated, surrounded by a "civilian neighborhood" with the "voices of vendors and children" audible from the streets.

"The neighborhood was full of Hamas people, and those who guarded us were terrorists," Limberg recounted. "The terrorists told us not to make noise because if they heard us, they would come and murder us." The constant sounds of IDF bombings heightened her terror, as she feared the building's collapse would expose their location, resulting in mob violence or execution by their captors.

Released captives like Limberg aided the IDF's subsequent operation to extract the remaining hostages in that Rafah apartment, Luis Herr and Fernando Simon Marman. 

"We were in an apartment of a family in Rafah, on the second floor, but the family wasn't there, only our guards," Herr recalled. "We heard people's voices and mostly the bombings from the IDF. It was clear there was a war between Israel and Gaza."

Hamas' trusted civilian confidants

Guy Aviad (Ana Aviad)
Guy Aviad (Ana Aviad)

This extensive network of civilian hideouts stems from Hamas' longstanding embeddedness within Gaza's social fabric, having originated as a grassroots movement before evolving into a terrorist entity and de facto government. Over the years, the group has developed operational procedures for concealing operatives in designated apartments amid the general population, extending this protocol to hiding kidnapped Israeli soldiers like Nachshon Wachsman and Gilad Schalit.

Gilad Schalit, who was kidnapped to Gaza in 2006, was held for five years in hiding apartments in the strip. He was guarded by an isolated group of Hamas terrorists who were part of the organization's "shadow unit." "This is a very small group, completely cut off from the world, whose job is to guard prisoners 24/7 for an extended period," Aviad said. "It's a focused group of professional terrorists whose job is this." However, the "shadow unit" members, like hiding apartments, are a limited resource. It seems that ahead of Oct. 7, Hamas prepared a plethora of hiding apartments and detention facilities in tunnels throughout the strip.

As for the families entrusted with "hosting" captives in their homes, they are meticulously vetted based on multigenerational ties and absolute fealty to Hamas' ideology, often cemented through intermarriages. 

"These are connections that go back years, and as a result, trust develops between the sides, which is the key word here," explained Harel Chorev, a historian tracking Hamas networks. "Hamas is heavily embedded within the population, usually through certain families identified with it...Once Hamas managed to penetrate this space, it became an inherent part of the identity of those clans."

Adi Carmi (Yehoshua Yosef)

While some experts suggest intimidation plays a role, most assert genuine ideological belief and loyalty take precedence. "Apart from the loyalty and belief in Hamas' way, that family father knows that if he doesn't cooperate with Hamas, they'll separate his head from his body," noted former Shin Bet coordinator Adi Carmi. "And yet, in my opinion, fear is the least significant component. The main component is trust."

However, researcher Ronit Marzan offers a different perspective, portraying Gaza's civilians as hostages themselves under Hamas' oppressive rule. "Gaza residents who have fled say that anyone left in Gaza has no choice but to cooperate with Hamas and remain silent," she said, citing reports of brutal reprisals against entire families for any dissent, including torture, imprisonment, and denial of healthcare and jobs.

Overcoming intelligence obstacles

The use of trusted civilian confidants to hide captives significantly impeded Israeli intelligence efforts to locate the hostages. "People who are ostensibly uninvolved and not known as operatives of the military wing are people the Israeli intelligence may not necessarily be familiar with," Carmi acknowledged. "And indeed, we see that this method works."

For two decades following Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, the Shin Bet lacked a physical presence in the territory, relying primarily on signals intelligence. However, the widespread ground operation during the recent conflict enabled human intelligence gathering through interrogations and local sources, allowing the agency to gradually piece together the hostages' likely locations.

Carmi continued, "After the IDF entered the area, the Shin Bet began striving for contact, until eventually it succeeded in locating where the captives were being held. Once you start arresting people, interrogating them and operating them, you learn the area at a much higher resolution."

Noa Argamani, and her father in the background, upon return to Israel, June 8, 2024 (Ziv Koren) Ziv Koren

It is crucial to note that the "strategic" captives who remain in Hamas' grip are IDF soldiers seized during combat operations, including the observation officers from Nahal Oz. According to Shin Bet officials and security experts consulted, these prisoners represent Hamas' final bargaining chips, which the group will be highly reluctant to relinquish to Israel.

Unlike the hostages held in civilian homes, it is likely that these captive soldiers are not being detained above ground, but rather in designated subterranean facilities Hamas constructed specifically for this purpose. These holding sites are believed to be located deep within the tunnel networks underlying Rafah and Khan Younis.

Consensus among the officials indicates that the living conditions endured by these captive military personnel are considerably harsher than those experienced by hostages sheltered in residential dwellings above ground.

Thus far, the sole female soldier rescued from Hamas captivity through a military operation is Ori Megidish, who was extracted from within Gaza during the early stages of the war. However, according to some sources, even Megidish was not held in a tunnel complex, but rather in a private residential home.

 

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WSJ reveals details of prominent Gaza family who held hostages captive in their home https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/06/12/wsj-reveals-details-of-hostages-hellish-captivity-in-gaza-familys-apartment/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/06/12/wsj-reveals-details-of-hostages-hellish-captivity-in-gaza-familys-apartment/#respond Wed, 12 Jun 2024 06:00:14 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=964983   The Wall Street Journal revealed Monday details of the notable Gaza family who held three of the four hostages rescued by the IDF on June 8 hostage in their home. According to the daily, 73-year-old physician Ahmad Al Jamal and his son, journalist Abdullah Al Jamal, were hiding Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and […]

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The Wall Street Journal revealed Monday details of the notable Gaza family who held three of the four hostages rescued by the IDF on June 8 hostage in their home.

According to the daily, 73-year-old physician Ahmad Al Jamal and his son, journalist Abdullah Al Jamal, were hiding Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv in a small room in their Nuseirat apartment. Meir Jan, Kozlov, and Ziv were abducted from the Nova music festival on Oct. 7 when Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking some 250 captive.

To the outside world, Ahmad was a respected community figure – a doctor at a public clinic, an imam known for his beautiful Quran recitations, and the head of a family with ties to Hamas. However, behind closed doors, the Al Jamal apartment had become a prison for hostages.

According to local residents interviewed by the WSJ, Ahmad went about his regular routines of work and worship while his son Abdullah and daughter-in-law Fatma guarded the hostages in the darkened room. The captives could hear the family's daily activities from their locked quarters.

The Al Jamal home – along with another building nearby where hostage Noa Argamani was held by another family with Hamas links – was destroyed after the IDF rescue operation that included a dramatic commando raid to extract the four hostages, which turned into fierce fighting with Hamas terrorists. Ahmad, Abdullah, and Fatma were killed in the operation, though their children are said to have survived.

Hamas was condemned for recklessly endangering civilians by housing captives in a densely population neighborhood without their knowledge, while some suspect those living nearby might have been aware of the hostages being held in the vicinity.

According to the WSJ, the Al Jamals were deeply involved with Hamas. Ahmad's brother is a Hamas lawmaker, while Abdullah openly supported the Oct. 7 massacre. Yet they were also respected community members – the doctor who circumcised local boys, the imam with the beautiful voice.

While Hamas' indiscriminate use of human shields is well-documented, the hostage crisis has revealed a new depth of depravity in embedding captives within civilian homes and neighborhoods.

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Noa Argamani's smile lifts spirit of entire nation https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/06/09/noa-argamani-back-with-family-lifts-spirit-of-entire-nation/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/06/09/noa-argamani-back-with-family-lifts-spirit-of-entire-nation/#respond Sat, 08 Jun 2024 21:27:16 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=961839   In a complex and dramatic rescue operation on Saturday, four Israeli hostages were freed from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, captivating Israelis and gluing to the television nationwide to see the dramatic footage of them reuniting with families. Among the most touching images was that of 25-year-old Noa Argamani, who was abducted during […]

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In a complex and dramatic rescue operation on Saturday, four Israeli hostages were freed from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, captivating Israelis and gluing to the television nationwide to see the dramatic footage of them reuniting with families.

Video: Noa Argamani reunited with her family / Credit: Courtesy

Among the most touching images was that of 25-year-old Noa Argamani, who was abducted during the Nova music festival attack on October 7, along with Almog Meir Jan (21), Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (40).

Video: Noa Argamani, her father Yaakov and a fighter who rescued her and other hostages / Credit: IDF

The emotional reunion took place at Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, where Noa was seen smiling and visibly moved as she embraced her father. They later posed to the press while drinking Coca Cola. She is expected to be transferred to Ichilov Hospital, where her mother, Liora, is currently receiving treatment for cancer.

Video: PM Netanyahu speaks with Noa Argamani / Credit: Courtesy

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu personally spoke with Noa, congratulating her on her return. He inquired about her well-being and assured her, "We never gave up on you for a moment." Noa responded saying, "it so strange speaking Hebrew after so many months."

In a touching phone call, President Isaac Herzog, with tears of joy, reached out to Noa upon her arrival in Israel. He spoke first with her father, Jacob Argamani, expressing his hopes for the mother's Liora's recovery and her wish to see Noa soon. The President extended his warm embrace to the family during this joyous moment.

Speaking directly to Noa, President Herzog said, "Noa, I'm so moved to hear your voice. It brings tears to my eyes. I embrace you on behalf of all the people of Israel. I must tell you, there's not a woman in the world named Noa who hasn't changed their profile picture to yours. You've become a global figure. I'm so excited and praying that your mother, Liora, will see you soon. I embrace you from the depths of my heart. Be well. Blessed is your return home."

Noa, overwhelmed with emotion, thanked the פרesident, saying, "Thank you for everything. I'm so happy to be here. Thank you for this moment."

This successful rescue operation marks a significant milestone in Israel's ongoing efforts to bring home its citizens held captive by Hamas since the October 7 attacks. The return of these four hostages brings hope to the families of those still in captivity and reaffirms the nation's commitment to leaving no one behind.

Video: The audio of Noa Argamani released on May 31, 2024

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Report: Former hostage Noa Argamani held captive in Al-Jazeera cameraman's house https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/06/09/report-former-hostage-noa-argamani-held-captive-in-al-jazeera-cameramans-house/ https://www.israelhayom.com/2024/06/09/report-former-hostage-noa-argamani-held-captive-in-al-jazeera-cameramans-house/#respond Sat, 08 Jun 2024 21:01:28 +0000 https://www.israelhayom.com/?p=962423   According to a report by the Arab media, former Israeli hostage Noa Argamni, who was rescued in a daring raid by the National Counter-Terrorism Unit on Saturday, was apparently held captive for 8 months in an Al-Jazeera cameraman's house. "26-Year-Old Noa Argamani was being held Captive in the Home of Abdallah Aljamal, a Photojournalist […]

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According to a report by the Arab media, former Israeli hostage Noa Argamni, who was rescued in a daring raid by the National Counter-Terrorism Unit on Saturday, was apparently held captive for 8 months in an Al-Jazeera cameraman's house. "26-Year-Old Noa Argamani was being held Captive in the Home of Abdallah Aljamal, a Photojournalist and Writer/Editor for both Al-Jazeera and the Palestinian Chronicle, " Open Source Intelligence Monitor said in a recent post on the social media platform X. 

Amid escalating tensions with Qatar over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet voted unanimously to close Qatari television network Al-Jazeera's operations in Israel, after Israel's parliament recently passed a law allowing the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters considered a threat to national security during the ongoing war against Hamas.

Qatar, which funds Hamas, has been accused by Israel of inflaming the conflict through Al-Jazeera's coverage, which Israel views as being sympathetic to Hamas. Al-Jazeera has denied any bias and vowed to maintain its reporting from the region.

Al-Jazeera issued the following statement in response to the allegations: "This man is not from Al-Jazeera, nor did he work for Al-Jazeera at all, nor is he listed as working for Al-Jazeera either now or in the past, and we do not know him, and all the rumors spread are empty of content and not true at all."

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