Israel rescued four hostages on Saturday, who were kidnapped in the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, the largest such recovery operation since the war began.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is 'at war' following a surprise attack from Gaza by Hamas militants.

Israel-Gaza War

Israel has successfully rescued four hostages who were kidnapped during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, marking the largest recovery operation since the conflict began. Among those rescued was 26-year-old Noah Argamani, whose abduction video had gone viral. 

The operation took place in a refugee camp in central Gaza and was based on precise intelligence. It involved high-risk efforts carried out in daylight across two separate buildings. The other three rescued hostages have been identified as 22-year-old Almagmair Jan, 27-year-old Andrei Kozlov, and 41-year-old Shlomi Ziv, all of whom were taken from the Supernova music festival.

This rescue mission occurred during a larger Israeli air and ground offensive in central Gaza, which has resulted in numerous Palestinian casualties. Families of the rescued hostages have expressed immense relief and gratitude, although many others continue to wait for information on their missing loved ones.

The emotional impact of the rescue was profound, especially for Noah Argamani’s father, Yaakov, who had wished for his daughter's return. Additionally, Noah’s mother, who is terminally ill, was able to see her daughter once again in the hospital.



Israel rescues four hostages

For Yaakov Argimony's birthday, his one wish for the past eight months was to be reunited with his daughter, Noah. And today, Yaakov's wish came true. The 26-year-old became an unofficial poster child for Hamas' attack on Israel when this video of her abduction went viral. Argimony, along with three other hostages who were taken from the Supernova music festival on October 7, the worst massacre in Israeli history, were rescued today in a special complex operation in a refugee camp in central Gaza. This was a high-risk complex mission based on precise intelligence conducted in daylight in two separate buildings deep inside Gaza. They risked their lives to save the lives of our hostages. This is what we do in Israel. We risk our lives to save the lives of our hostages. The rescue operation on Saturday came amid a major Israeli air and ground offensive in central Gaza that has killed and wounded hundreds of Palestinians. The other three men have been identified as 22-year-old Almagmair Jan from a small town near Tel Aviv, 27-year-old Andrei Kozlov, who was working as a security guard at the festival, and another festival security guard, 41-year-old Shlomi Ziv. Thank you for bringing my son to me, to us. I'm so excited that I could hug him today. The eight-month mark since the savage attack still leaves many families without answers. Omar Gott woke up today with a smile on his face, knowing those hostages were reunited with their families, but he still carries an empty feeling every day. His mother was murdered by Hamas, and his sister is still being held captive. She just needs to stay strong and survive, and she's waiting for us. And we are getting too late. It's our responsibility to get her back yesterday. We are dealing with a terror organization that's holding up my sister. They came into my kibbutz, they came into my family home, and they killed lots of people. They butchered, they slaughtered, they murdered, they raped. The only hope those families have are images like these. Noah Argamani's family is rejoicing. Her father on his birthday, and her mother, who's terminally ill with stage 4 brain cancer. Her plea has been to see her daughter again before she died. And today, in the hospital, she did.

The Paris Olympic Games have officially opened with a ceremony in the rain along the River Seine. Athletes floated along on boats for the parade, while former French sprinter Marie-José Pérec and French judoka Teddy Riner lit the Olympic flame.

Paris

Paris Olympics

Paris Olympics underway after Opening Ceremony

Taiwanese authorities are assessing the damage caused by Typhoon Gaemi. The coastguard has been rescuing boats stranded by the tropical storm. The official death toll has risen to eight, with more than 800 people injured.

Taipei

Cargo crew rescued from Typhoon Gaemi

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Chico

Uncontrolled fires burn across California

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Tsim Sha Tsui

Climate Crisis

Thousands evacuated in China as Typhoon makes landfall

Mexican drug kingpin Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada and a son of his former partner, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, were arrested on Thursday in El Paso, Texas, in a major coup for U.S. authorities that may also reshape the Mexican criminal landscape.

El Paso

Mexican drug lords arrested in El Paso

Former U.S. President Donald Trump said his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had always been warm as the two leaders met on Friday (July 26), and the Israeli leader said he hoped progress was being made in talks on a Gaza ceasefire.

Palm Beach

Netanyahu meets Trump, says working on cease-fire

A North Korean military intelligence operative has been indicted in a conspiracy to hack into American health care providers, NASA, U.S. military bases and international entities.

Kansas City

North Korean charged in U.S. cyberattacks

Arsonists lighting fires across France's high-speed rail network have disrupted the transport network just hours before the Olympic Opening Ceremony in Paris, however the attacks failed to stop the event from going ahead.

France rail network attacked before Olympics

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Saboteurs attack French railways ahead of Olympic ceremony

Typhoon Gaemi pummeled towns on China's coastal Fujian province on Friday with heavy rains and strong winds as the most powerful storm to hit the country this year began its widely watched trek into the populous interior.

Fujian

Typhoon Gaemi lashes China after pounding Taiwan, Philippines

Presidential candidates in Venezuela have held their final campaign rallies ahead of the election on Sunday. Opposition leaders are asking voters to oust President Nicolas Maduro, who's seeking a third term. But Maduro has warned the country risks a "bloodbath" if the opposition wins.

Caracas

Final rallies held ahead of Venezuela presidential election

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.

Washington

Harris strikes tougher tone on Gaza ceasefire deal

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Swim coach spared axe over supporting Korean rival

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Athletes navigate security risks at Paris 2024

Typhoon Gaemi has reached southeastern China after churning across the Taiwan Strait. The typhoon has prompted warnings of swelling rivers, flash floods, and waterlogging in cities and provinces that were hit by extreme rains several weeks ago.

Typhoon Gaemi hits China after pounding Taiwan, Philippines

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Major security operation in place to guard Paris Olympics

U.S. President Joe Biden pressed for a ceasefire to the 9-month-old war in Gaza in talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday (July 25), with Vice President Kamala Harris due to meet the Israeli leader later in the day.

Biden meets with Netanyahu, presses for ceasefire in Gaza

Counterterrorism officers are investigating after a man was allegedly found with chemical explosives and a knife at a Sydney shopping centre. Police moved in after shoppers heard a loud blast at Miranda Westfield.

Miranda

Man with knife and explosives arrested at Westfield

The Prime Minister is set to unveil a new Cabinet line-up after two senior members announced today they're retiring from politics. Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney and Brendan O'Connor will move to the backbench.

Canberra

Prime Minister set to reveal cabinet reshuffle

A limited curfew is still in place in Bangladesh after days of protests and a police crackdown. Some businesses and government offices are reopening, and partial internet service is being restored in some areas. Police have arrested more than 2,000 people. The United Nations has demanded an investigation of the Bangladeshi government's crackdown on student protesters.

Dhaka

UN demands investigation of Bangladesh's crackdown on protesters

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U.S. Presidential Election

Biden says he bowed out to unite nation, backs Harris to beat Trump

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From Paris to Polynesia, final Olympic preparations underway

Thousands of people gathered in North Carolina for Donald Trump's first rally since Joe Biden pulled out of the race. It’s a key battleground state for both sides and the Republican nominee wasted no time in going on the attack against his likely opponent in November, Kamala Harris.

North Carolina

Trump slams Harris as ‘radical’ in first rally since Biden’s exit

In a fiery speech to the U.S. Congress skipped by some top Democrats, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed critics of his country’s war against Hamas as ‘useful idiots’ for Iran, and said America and Israel must stand together.

Netanyahu blasts Gaza war critics, Iran in fiery speech to U.S. Congress

A passenger plane has crashed and caught fire shortly after taking off from Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, killing 18 people, aviation officials say. The pilot was the only survivor of the crash and was treated in hospital.

Kathmandu

Nepal plane crash kills 18; pilot only survivor

Heavy rain from Typhoon Gaemi has flooded the Philippine capital Manila and nearby cities, forcing authorities to shut schools, offices and cancel flights and declare a state of calamity in a region that is home to 13 million people.

Manila

Typhoon Gaemi brings heavy rain to Manila, forcing evacuation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told families of hostages held in Gaza that a deal that would secure their loved ones' release could be nearing, his office said.

Netanyahu in U.S. says hostage deal may come soon

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Wisconsin

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The head of the United States Secret Service is stepping down over the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump after days of mounting pressure and criticism for failing to prevent the shooting.

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Israel-Gaza War