Rescued Israeli hostage Argamani urges UN to save remaining 63 hostages, including her boyfriend

The rescued Israeli hostage Noa Argamani urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to help save the remaining 63 hostages who remain in Hamas captivity in Gaza, including her boyfriend, Avinatan Or.

She recalled the traumatic experience when she and Avinatan were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023.

“My name is Noa Argamani. I was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7 from the Nova Festival along with my boyfriend, Avinatan Or. We were taken to Gaza 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," Argamani said.

"After eight months in captivity, I was rescued by the Israeli soldiers. Being here today is a miracle, but I’m here today to tell you we have no time. As I speak, there are still 63 hostages living in a nightmare, including my partner Avinatan," she emphasized. “Until Avinatan returns, my heart is in captivity',” she added.

In June 2024, Israeli special forces rescued Argamani and the three other hostages – Almog Meir Jan, Andrei Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv – in a daring rescue operation in central Gaza.

Argamani was the first released Israeli hostage to address the UNSC. She stressed the urgency of rescuing the remaining hostages.

“They are in absolute hell, abandoned by the world. Don't let the darkness last forever!' she pleaded. “Our lives cannot go [on] without them. That's why I need to make sure the world knows this.”

Argamani urged the UNSC to facilitate the implementation of all the stages of the hostage Gaza deal between Israel and Hamas.

“The deal must go on in its entirety, in all its stages. My partner and many other hostages are only supposed to be released in the second stage of the deal. We are talking about innocent people who were taken from their beds, from a music festival, from their simple lives – to a hellish hell," she argued.

Argamani reminded council members of the brutal murder of Shiri Bibas and her young children, Ariel and Kfir, whose bodies were recently returned to Israel for burial.

"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 who were brutally murdered in captivity. They didn't die in battle. They weren't soldiers. They were tender children, whose blood was spilled with unimaginable brutality. This crime is unspeakable, we can't imagine it, but it happened. And that's why we can't leave anyone there. This is Hamas – an organization that crushes babies with its hands and celebrates death,” she stated.

Argamani said she spent part of her captivity with two young Israeli girls, Emily Hand and Hila Rotem.

"I know what it feels like to be left behind, to see other hostages being released. Every moment feels like the last moment of their lives, every second counts. When I was in Gaza, I was held with two little girls, Hila Rotem and Emily Hand. Emily was 8 years old at the time and Hila was 12. I had to be brave, not only for myself but also for the girls. I had to act as if everything would be okay, which is why I told them, 'As long as we are here, together, alive in this room – nothing else matters.'"

She concluded by emphasizing that the remaining hostages are in constant danger.

“You have to understand – every second in captivity is very dangerous. I didn’t think I would survive. That’s why it’s absolutely critical that we put an end to this terrible tragedy. Without immediate action, many more innocent lives will end – including my partner Avinatan. Until Avinatan returns, my heart is in captivity,” Argamani pleaded.

The Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon praised Argamani while criticizing the international community for failing to act against Hamas.

"We thank Noa for being here today, but she would not have been here today if the international community and this Council had acted against Hamas instead of looking the other way and remaining silent. The world must understand: Our hostages are living in hell on earth. They have no hope without action. It is time to make a decision to unequivocally condemn Hamas. They must return home now and we will return them home," Danon stated.