Army publishes footage of rescued hostages before airlift to safety

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Screen capture from bodycam video during the rescue of hostages from Gaza on June 8, 2024. (Screen capture: IDF)
Screen capture from bodycam video during the rescue of hostages from Gaza on June 8, 2024. (Screen capture: IDF)

The military releases headcam footage showing the moment when the Israeli hostages rescued from Hamas captivity in central Gaza’s Nuseirat by special forces were brought to a helipad to be airlifted to Israel.

The video comes from the camera of a soldier in the Navy’s elite Shayetet 13 commando unit, the IDF says.

The military says the Paratroopers Brigade’s reconnaissance unit had also aided in the extraction of the Yamam officers and Shin Bet agents with the four rescued hostages from Nuseirat, while under fire.

At the same time, the IDF says members of the Israeli Air Force’s elite Shaldag and 669 units worked to treat wounded Yamam officer Ch. Insp. Arnon Zmora, who was fatally shot by Hamas terrorists guarding three of the four hostages.

Zmora died upon arriving at a hospital in Israel, and the rescue mission was later named “Operation Arnon” in his honor.

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