Rescued Israeli hostage Noa Agramani’s mother dies after vowing to fight cancer ‘until she saw her again’
THE mother of Israeli hostage Noa Agramani has died just weeks after her daughter was freed from Hamas’ clutches.
Liora Argamani had previously revealed her dying wish was to see her daughter one last time and vowed to fight cancer until that day.
Noa, 26, was rescued just weeks ago after eight months in Hamas captivity.
Her plight became one of the most harrowing and recognisable images of the horror October 7 atrocity.
The university student was seen being loaded onto a motorbike as she pleaded with them “don’t kill me”.
Noa’s devastated mum Liora desperately appealed for her daughter’s release.
The devoted mum, 61, previously said all she wanted was to see her kidnapped daughter “one more time”.
Liora previously told the Times of Israel: “I want to see her one more time. Talk to her one more time.
“I don’t have a lot of time left in this world.”
Noa was finally rescued at the start of June after being saved by Israeli forces in a daring operation involving hundreds of soldiers.
Heartwarming images showed the emotional moment she was reunited with her dad Yaakov.
They were later pictured beaming and embracing as they enjoyed bottles of Coca Cola.
She was then reunited with her mum Liora, who was suffering from stage four brain cancer.
Liora has now tragically died at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov hospital
A post from Israel’s official X account reads: “We are devastated to share that Liora Argamani, mother of released hostage Noa Argamani, has passed away following an intensive battle with cancer.
“Our hearts are with Noa and Yaakov Argamani. May Liora’s memory be a blessing.”
Liora “spent her final days alongside her daughter Noa”, the hospital said.
Days ago, Noa spoke out for the first time since her release and said her “biggest worry” while she was captive for 245 days was for her parents.
Heartbreakingly, she told how it was a “great privilege to be my mother’s side”.
She also called for “everything possible” to be done to free those still being held in Gaza, including her boyfriend Avinatan Or.
Who are the four freed hostages?
Noa Argamani
The student was at the Nova music festival in the Israeli dessert when she was kidnapped by Hamas fighters.
Harrowing footage emerged of the militants dragging her away on a motorcycle as she begged “Don’t kill me”.
The 26-year-old university student screams “Don’t kill me! No, no, no”, as the gunmen speed away with her trapped in between them.
Her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, is held tightly by two other terrorists nearby as he watches his helpless girlfriend in horror.
Noa’s family only discovered she had been taken when they stumbled upon the disturbing footage online.
Almog Meir Jan
The 21-year-old was also attending the Nova music festival on October 7 when he was seized.
His mum, Orit, said in an interview he had been due to start a new job in Israel’s “high-tech” sector on October 8.
Almog had been attending the music festival with a friend who was killed and later burned.
Orit said her son had called her at 7.45pm on October 7 to tell her the festival had been stopped and he would call her back every hour – but he never phoned again.
One of his pals is said to have identified Almog in a video clip published by Hamas several hours later.
Andrey Kozlov
The 27-year-old was working as security guard at the music festival on October 7 when he was kidnapped.
He is a native of St Petersburg, Russia, according to the Times of Israel, and had moved to Israel 18 months earlier.
Andrey lived near Tel Aviv with friends before his capture.
Shlomi Ziv
The 40-year-old was also working as a security guard at the Nova music festival.
He spoke to one of his sisters, telling her he was heading home from the festival after the Hamas attack had started.
Shlomi told her there was a bottleneck of cars, according to a Times of Israel report.
He had been at the event with a friend and relative of his wife.
Both died in the massacre.
It was several weeks before his family knew he had been taken hostage.
Noa said: “I mourn with the family of [counter-terrorism chief inspector] Arnon Zmora, who fell during the rescue operation of me and three other hostages.
“My heart is with his family. Arnon is a hero of Israel, and because of him, we are here.
“I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that there are still 120 hostages in Hamas captivity.
“Among them is Avinatan Or, my partner, from whom I was separated at the moment of abduction.”
The video, lasting two minutes, was shown on a giant screen in the centre of Tel Aviv last night.
She shared that she had a deep concern for her parents during the eight months she was held against her will.
Noa said: “As an only child to my parents – and a daughter to a mother with a terminal illness – my biggest worry in captivity was for my parents.
“It’s a great privilege to be here after 246 days in Hamas captivity. It’s a great privilege to be by my mother’s side after 8 months of uncertainty.
“It’s a great privilege to see my parents, surrounded by so many good people.”
Noa was rescued alongside three other Israeli hostages – Almog Meir 21, Andrey Kozlov 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40.
Noa was rescued at one site, while Meir Jan, Kozlov, and Ziv were at the second Hamas base.
Harrowing footage showed the moment Noa was snatched by Hamas terrorists and dragged away before being taken to Gaza.
She was at the Nova music festival in the desert when the militants dragged her away on a motorcycle as she begged “don’t kill me”.
The disturbing footage showed her with her arms outstretched as she begged them to let her go.
She screamed”Don’t kill me! No, no, no”, as the gunmen sped away with her trapped in between them.
Her boyfriend was held tightly by two other terrorists nearby as he watched his helpless girlfriend in horror.
Noa’s family only discovered she had been taken when they stumbled upon the disturbing footage online.
