Gaza City, Gaza – The Israeli army announced on Saturday that it successfully rescued four hostages who had been held captive by Hamas fighters since October 7.

The hostages, identified as Noa Argamani (25), Almog Meir Jan (21), Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (40), were freed in a complex special daytime operation conducted in Nuseirat, a refugee camp in central Gaza.

The operation involved two separate rescue missions in the heart of Nuseirat. This significant rescue effort marks the largest recovery of living hostages since the conflict began, increasing the total number of rescued captives to seven.

Hamas had initially kidnapped approximately 250 individuals during its attack on southern Israel on October 7. About half of these hostages were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November. According to Israeli authorities, more than 130 hostages remain in captivity, with about a quarter of those believed to be dead.

The issue of how to secure the release of the remaining hostages has become increasingly contentious within Israel, deepening divisions over the best strategies to bring them home safely.

The recent successful operation underscores Israel’s ongoing efforts to recover all hostages amid the ongoing conflict.