IDF rescue four hostages kidnapped by Hamas during October 7 attack - 'Civilians in good medical condition'
Palestinians take to the road in Al-Maghazi as they flee their displacement camps
Getty
Israeli forces have rescued four hostages alive from the central Gaza Strip.
The four hostages, three males and one female, had been kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7 and were taken to hospital for medical checks.
The hostages, who were captured by Hamas from the Nova music festival in October, were named as Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40.
It comes as Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh said Israel cannot force its choices on Hamas and the group will accept no deal that does not achieve security for Palestinians.
A poster demanding the return of Almog Meir Jan, who was rescued
Reuters
Israel has confirmed four have been rescued
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In a joint statement, the IDF (Israel Defence Forces), ISA (Israel Securities Authority) and Israel Police said: "The hostages were rescued by the IDF, ISA and 'Yamam' forces from two separate locations in the heart of Nuseirat.
"They are in good medical condition and have been transferred to the 'Sheba' Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre for further medical examinations.
"The security forces will continue to make every effort to bring the hostages home."
Video of Argamani's kidnapping had circulated soon after she was dragged into Gaza by gunmen on October 7.
Noa Argamani (25), Almog Meir Jan (21), Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (40) were rescued in a special operation by the IDF, ISA and Israel Police
IDF
Supporters and family members of hostages, who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas, react as they walk towards a medical centre in Israel
Reuters
The Gaza health ministry said 36,801 Palestinians have been killed and 83,680 injured in the military offensive on Gaza since October 7.
Some 70 Palestinians were killed and 150 injured in the past 24 hours, the ministry added.
Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz was scheduled to give a speech today where he is widely expected to announce his resignation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's emergency government.
Gantz presented the conservative prime minister with a June 8 deadline to come up with a clear day-after strategy for Gaza, where Israel has been pressing a devastating military offensive against the ruling Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Gantz is expected to announce he is stepping down from the emergency cabinet
Reuters
Following the news that Israeli forces had rescued four Israeli hostages alive from Gaza, the minister's spokespeople said his statement would be postponed. They did not give a new time for the address.
The minister's spokespeople have not provided details of his scheduled speech, but political commentators in Israel's leading newspapers said he was expected to announce his resignation.
The departure of Gantz's centrist party would not pose an immediate threat to Netanyahu's governing coalition, which controls 64 of parliament's 120 seats, but it could have a serious impact nonetheless.