Rescued Israeli hostage speaks at her mother’s funeral 

(2 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Be'er Sheva, Israel - 2 July 2024
1. Zoom in on Noa Argamani (right) and her father Yaakov during funeral of her mother Liora
2. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Noa Argamani, rescued Israeli hostage:
"I'm standing here today and still trying to digest everything that happened recently. Against all odds I was privileged to be with you in your last moments, talk with you, laugh with you."
3. Cutaway
4. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Noa Argamani, rescued Israeli hostage:
"Thank you for being strong and holding on all this time just so I could see you at least one more time, just so dad won’t be left alone."
5. Yaakov Argamani at funeral
6. Noa Argamani (left)
7. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Noa Argamani, rescued Israeli hostage:
"Thank you for 26 years you were with me at every minute. Since I remember myself you were my role model, and you taught me how to appreciate the little moment in life. We traveled together all around the world, and you made me the strong person I am today."
8. Argamani comforted by her father Yaakov
9. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Noa Argamani, rescued Israeli hostage:
"I promise you I will take care of dad, and to take care of him like you did for 31 years. I promise you I will be strong exactly like you. Mom, you will always be a part of me, no matter where I go, or who I will meet."
10. Argamani and her father hugging
11. Argamani and her father walking through mourners
STORYLINE:
An Israeli hostage rescued from captivity in Gaza last month paid tribute on Tuesday to her mother at her funeral.
“Thank you for being strong and holding on all this time just so I could see you at least one more time,” said Noa Argamani at her mother’s funeral Tuesday.
Liora Argamani died at 61, less than a month after being reunited with her daughter.
Argamani, who had Stage 4 brain cancer, had pleaded for the release of her daughter, Noa, saying she wanted to see her only child before she died.
Noa Argamani, who emerged as an icon of the hostage crisis after a video from the Oct. 7 Hamas attack showed her being forced onto a motorbike and shouting at her captors not to kill her, was freed along with three other hostages in early June in an Israeli military operation in central Gaza.
Palestinian health officials said at least 274 Palestinians were killed during the operation.
The two were reunited, but Yaakov Argamani, Noa’s father, said Liora was in a “very difficult situation” and barely registered seeing her daughter, Israeli media reported.
Hamas took around 250 hostages in its surprise attack into Israel and is still holding around 120 after most of the rest were released during a cease-fire in November.
Around a third of those still held are believed to be dead.
Some 1,200 people were killed in the attack.
Israel’s ongoing offensive, launched in response, has killed at least 37,900 Palestinians, according to Palestinian health officials, who do not distinguish between civilians and fighters in their count.
AP video shot by Ami Bentov
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