Rescued hostage: Ceasefire must continue to ‘make sure all our loved ones return to us’

Speaking at a Washington synagogue to mark 500 days since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, rescued captive Noa Argamani calls for the current hostage release and captive deal to continue to its second phase, during which all the hostages are expected to be freed in return for an end to the war in Gaza.

“This deal right now is so important. It brings our loved ones back to us. My partner Avinatan Or is part of the second stage of this deal. We have to continue to the second stage and make sure all our loved ones return to us,” Argamani says.

Also addressing the event is former hostage Ilana Gritzewsky, who was freed during the weeklong ceasefire in November 2023. Her boyfriend Matan Zangauker remains in Hamas captivity and is not slated to be released until the deal’s second phase.

“Despite everything I have been through, I am more Zionist today than I have ever been,” she said. “Israel is where I want to build my family, to raise my kids. But in order for me to see my future in Israel, all of the hostages must come back. There is nothing more aligned with being a Zionist than fighting for our people, it is at the core of our Jewish identity.”

“In order for me to heal, in order for all of the released hostages to heal and for the country to start recovering — we need to bring them all home. Now.”