Cancer-ridden mother of Israeli hostage Noa Argamani begs Hamas to release her: ‘Before something happens to me…’

Noa Argamani's mother, Liora, is battling stage 4 brain cancer, and has expressed her wish to see her daughter before the illness killed her

Published on: Nov 27, 2023, 11:48:21 IST

By Sumanti Sen

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The mother of Noa Argamani, whose abduction by Hamas terrorists on October 7 was caught on camera, is now begging the group to release her daughter during the truce. Liora is battling stage 4 brain cancer, and has expressed her wish to see her daughter before the illness killed her.

In this image from video obtained by the AP, Noa Argamani reacts as she and her partner Avinatan Or, not pictured, are seized by members of the Hamas militant group during an incursion into Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 (AP Photo) (AP)

“My one wish would be to hug and see Noa before something happens to me due to my medical condition, which would mean I won't be able to,” she told the Mail. “I know she is a strong girl. We're waiting for her. Only the thought of her coming home keeps me strong.”

Hamas gunmen launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7. The worst of the attacks, perhaps, was launched at the Nova Music Festival. The party descended into chaos when the terrorists attacked the site, killing at least 260 people and abducting many more. Thousands of people attended the party, near Kibbutz Re'im close to Gaza. Palestinian gunmen attacked the site and shot people down as they tried to escape.

A video shows the terrorists kidnapping Noa, taking her away on the back of a motorcycle as she screamed for help. The men were seen restraining her boyfriend, Avinatan Or. He was seen being made to walk with his hands held behind his back. They are being considered two of several Israelis who are believed to be held captive in Gaza at present.

The cease-fire between Israel and Hamas prompted the terror organisation to release 17 more hostages on Sunday, November 26. This included 14 Israelis and the first American. Some other hostages were released in the past two days.

While some hostages were directly handed over to Israel, others left through Egypt. The youngest hostage to be released was a four-year-old girl named Abigail Edan. The child, a dual Israeli-American citizen, was orphaned after her parents were murdered by Hamas.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sumanti Sen
Sumanti Sen covers everything that’s happening in the US, from politics to entertainment, but her expertise lies in covering crime news. She has comprehensively chronicled the Idaho student murders, the Laken Riley and Iryna Zarutska cases, and the killing of Charlie Kirk, among other incidents. Over the years, she has interviewed several victims/families of victims of crimes seeking justice. She digs up stories that might otherwise remain unheard, and does her bit to ensure that victims and survivors’ voices are heard. Sumanti’s many years of experience also include interviews with Hamas attack survivors and mental health experts, among others. Her coverage of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and interviews with survivors of the tragedy, coupled with her other works including the Titan submersible coverage, earned her the Digi Journo of the Quarter award during her first year at Hindustan Times. Sumanti actively tracks missing person cases in the United States, and peruses Reddit and other social media platforms to bring to light cases that frequently elude public attention. She has extensively covered the disappearances of Nancy Guthrie, Thomas Medlin, Beau Mann, and Sudiksha Konanki, among others. When not at work, you will either find her with her novels, or with her beloved rescue pooches.Read More

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