Monday, October 30, 2023

IDF rescues soldier held hostage by Hamas - Sam Halpern

 

​ by Sam Halpern

Private Ori Megedish was rescued 23 days after she was kidnapped from southern Israel.

 

Private Ori Megidish has been reunited with her family, October 30, 2023. (photo credit: SHIN BET)
Private Ori Megidish has been reunited with her family, October 30, 2023.
(photo credit: SHIN BET)

Private Ori Megidish, an IDF soldier, was rescued during the IDF's operation in Gaza on Sunday night, the IDF and Shin Bet said in a joint statement on Monday.

She was kidnapped by the Hamas terrorists on October 7 and has now been reunited with her family.

A subsequent medical examination administered to Megidish has determined that she is healthy.

The statement noted that the IDF and Shin bet will continue to make every effort to secure the freedom of the remaining hostages.

Responses from Herzog and Netanyahu

President Isaac Herzog was quick to express his happiness for Megidish's rescue in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday night.

Israelis celebrate the release of IDF soldier Pvt. Ori Megidish from Hamas captivity, outside her home in Kiryat Gat, October 30, 2023. (credit: Liron Moldovan/Flash90)
Israelis celebrate the release of IDF soldier Pvt. Ori Megidish from Hamas captivity, outside her home in Kiryat Gat, October 30, 2023. (credit: Liron Moldovan/Flash90)

"I was moved to see the soldier Ori Megidish return home to her loving family after a daring operation by the IDF and Shin Bet," Herzog wrote. "Our security forces operate around the clock in Gaza, in the north, in Judea and Samaria, and everywhere, on land, in the air, and at sea."

 

 "Last night, our forces freed Private Ori Megidish from Hamas captivity. O)ri was abducted on the dark morning of October 7th," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Welcome back home, Ori. I commend the Shin Bet and the IDF for this significant and emotional achievement, an achievement that reflects our commitment to bringing all the captives home. All of Israel pays tribute to the Shin Bet and the IDF. To the Hamas terrorists and to ISIS, I say - you are monsters. We will continue to pursue you, we will continue to hunt you down. We will strike you until you yield from our grip."

 

In response to the liberation of the IDF soldier, Hamas stated on its Telegram channel that the news was an intentional distraction from the hostage video released by the terror organization earlier on Monday.  

"Regarding the allegations by the Zionist terrorist occupation about the release of a female soldier, we affirm that such an announcement aims to divert attention from the video of the captured women that Al-Qassam Brigades broadcast today, which has caused significant shock within the Zionist society," the statement read.

Celebrations erupted around Megidish's house in the southern Israeli city of Kiryat Gat. A crowd gathered around the residence and neighbors and revelers sang songs and set off fireworks.

"It's like another birth," Israeli media quoted a neighbor of the family, Itamar Trobek, as saying. "We are very happy. We saw the family, they weren't the same as yesterday. We prayed a lot."

This is a developing story

 

Sam Halpern

Source: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-770879

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