Rescue of Ori Megidish

The beginning of the light operation
מבצע ראשית האור
Part of the Israel–Hamas war

Private Magidish with her family after her return
Date30 October 2023; 3 months ago (2023-10-30)
Location
Gaza Strip
Result Private Megidish was rescued

The rescue of Ori Megidish was an IDF military operation (Hebrew: מבצע ראשית האור, Mivtza Reshit ha'Or, lit. The beginning of the light operation) during the Israel–Hamas war in the Gaza Strip for the rescue of the military observer private Uri Magidish from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip to Israel. Megidish was rescued in a joint operation between the IDF and the Israeli Shin Bet, based on specific intelligence of her wherabouts. Two Hamas militants were killed during the operation.[1][2][3]

Megidish's rescue was the first successful rescue operation by Israel in about two decades, and the first of the Israel-Hamas war.[4]

Abduction

Ori Megidish was 18-years-old at the time of her abduction and serving in the Israeli Defense Forces as a field observation soldier. During the 7 October attacks she and other members of her unit were taken hostage after Hamas militants attacked the Nahal Oz military base.[5]

Rescue

Magidish was the first abductee to be freed in such military operation by the IDF and Shin Bet forces after the 7 October attacks. Hamas had previously released four hostages, before her rescue that included foreign citizens and older Israelis.[6] Other abductees were released according to the November 2023 Israeli–Palestinian prisoner exchange, during which Israel released Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of abductees. Two others, Fernando Simon Marman and Luis Herr, were rescued on 12 February 2024, by the Shin Bet and Yamam in Operation Golden Hand.[7]

After her rescue Megidish reportedly shared information with the Israeli military and intelligence officers about her captivity.[6] Widespread celebrations were held in her hometown of Kiryat Gat after her release, and she met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in January 2024.[5] She also celebrated the release of other hostages during the November 2023 prisoner exchange by posting to social media celebrating their return and wishing that all hostages and their families could reunite as she had.[8]

References

  1. ^ Reiss, Johnatan; Kingsley, Patrick (2023-10-30). "Israeli Soldier Rescued After Hamas Abduction". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  2. ^ Magramo, Akanksha Sharma, Kathleen (2023-10-31). "Israeli forces rescue soldier held by Hamas in special operation, IDF says". CNN. Retrieved 2024-02-14.{cite web}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ "Ori Megidish: Israeli soldier hostage in Gaza rescued". 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
  4. ^ "The rescue of Private Megidish shows a multi-pronged approach". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
  5. ^ a b "'So happy you're here': President Herzog meets IDF soldier rescued from Gaza". The Times of Israel. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b Magramo, Akanksha Sharma, Kathleen (2023-10-31). "Ori Megidish: Israeli forces rescue soldier held by Hamas in special operation, IDF says". CNN. Retrieved 2024-02-16.{cite web}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ "Israeli forces rescue 2 hostages as airstrikes kill around 100 Palestinians in Rafah". 12 February 2024.
  8. ^ "Hostage Ori Megidish posts first social media video: I got my life back". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2023-11-27. Retrieved 2024-02-16.