26 August 2024: Noa Argamani, an Israeli woman who was freed from Hamas captivity in Gaza in June, has clarified that her injuries were caused by an Israeli airstrike during her rescue, not by Hamas fighters, as initially reported by some Israeli media outlets, as per a report by Middle East Eye.
Argamani, who was abducted from the Nova music festival during the 7 October attack by Hamas on southern Israel, spoke to G7 diplomats in Tokyo on Wednesday, sharing details of her ordeal. However, following media coverage of her testimony, she issued a statement on Instagram to correct the record.
“I cannot ignore what happened here over the past 24 hours, taking my words out of context,” she wrote. “Hamas members did not hit me while I was in captivity, nor did they cut my hair; I was injured by the collapse of a wall caused by an [Israeli] Air Force pilot.”
Argamani, 26, was among four Israeli captives rescued during an Israeli military operation in the Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah refugee camps in Gaza. The operation, which took place in June, resulted in the deaths of at least 236 Palestinians, primarily women and children.
Describing her survival as a “miracle,” Argamani said, “It’s a miracle because I survived 7 October, and I survived this bombing, and I also survived the rescue.”
Argamani emphasized that securing the release of the remaining Israeli captives should be a top priority for the Israeli government. Her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, remains in Hamas captivity, one of 105 individuals believed to be held in Gaza, including 34 whom the Israeli military has reported as dead.
“Avinatan, my boyfriend, is still there, and we need to bring them back before it’s going to be too late. We don’t want to lose more people than we already lost,” she urged.
Following her abduction, Argamani’s father spoke to Middle East Eye, expressing his desire for peace and an end to the suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians. “We have to stop this killing between us and them so that there can be real peace between these two countries once and for all,” he said shortly after the 7 October attack.
Argamani’s case highlights the complexities of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, with her story underscoring the tragic human cost on both sides of the divide.
