The mother of rescued Israeli hostage Noah Agamani has died, three weeks after her daughter was freed in a dramatic raid after eight months in Gaza’s captivity by Hamas.
Liora Argamani, who was born in China, has brain cancer. She is 61 years old.
Leora posted a video in December pleading with Hamas to free her daughter, saying: “I don’t know how long I have to live. I hope to have the chance to see my Noah at home.”
Noah was rescued on June 8, when Israeli commandos raided her apartment in the Nuserat refugee camp in central Gaza. At the same time, three other hostages in a nearby apartment were also rescued.
The photo of Noah being horribly dragged away on a motorcycle by Hamas gunmen became one of the most widely known images of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Hamas breached the border and launched an unprecedented attack, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 251 people, including Israelis and foreigners, hostage.
The attack sparked a war between Israel and Hamas. The Hamas-controlled health ministry said Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has killed at least 37,900 people.
Hostages and Missing Families Forum – a collective of relatives and friends of those who were taken hostage on October 7th – Said he “hangs his head” after hearing the news of Leola’s death.
A video of Noa speaking publicly for the first time since her rescue was played at a protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, calling for the release of the remaining hostages.
“As the only child of my parents, and a mother with a terminal illness, my biggest concern while in captivity was for my parents,” she said.
“After 246 days of being imprisoned by Hamas, I am deeply honored to be here, to be by my mother’s side after eight months of uncertainty.”
It is believed that Hamas and allied armed groups are still holding 120 hostages, including Avinatan Or, the boyfriend who was kidnapped with Noah. Israeli authorities presume that at least 42 hostages are dead.
Others have been released, rescued or had their bodies found.
