Althouse: "Her 245th day in captivity had started like most others until, shortly after 11 a.m., she heard a knock at the door, followed by yelling."

June 9, 2024

"Her 245th day in captivity had started like most others until, shortly after 11 a.m., she heard a knock at the door, followed by yelling."

"Suddenly, the room was filled with Israeli soldiers. 'You are being rescued!' they shouted in Hebrew.... 'In Noa Argamani’s building, we surprised [her guards] completely,' [said an IDF spokesman]. The stunned young woman was bustled down the stairs into a vehicle and driven to a helicopter waiting nearby. Soldiers relayed the good news with a coded phrase: 'We have the diamond in our hand.'"

From "Inside Israel’s hostage rescue: Secret plans and a deadly ‘wall of fire’/This account is based on more than a dozen interviews with former and current Israeli military officials, family members of hostages and Palestinian eyewitnesses" (WaPo)(free access link).

78 comments:

Chest Rockwell said...: Sorting by best is refreshing.; 6/9/24, 8:13 PM
Iman said...: Excellent work by the IDF. And the machinations of the terror group and those working directly for them or providing cover for them are being revealed.

Scum of the Earth.; 6/9/24, 8:16 PM
Dave Begley said...: Yeah! Congrats!

Go IDF, go!; 6/9/24, 8:40 PM
Joe Smith said...: Hamas seem to be really bad at doing terrorist things.

Oh well...; 6/9/24, 8:45 PM
Creola Soul said...: 274 Palestinians killed for 4 hostages. Don’t like the 50+ to 1 ratio? Then let the hostages go. It’s really simple.; 6/9/24, 8:46 PM
Jimmy said...: The left and Democrats are upset that so many 'innocent' civilians are dead. The replies at WaPo show how outraged people are about this action. Normal democrat responses
What they don't realize is that this is just the first part of a years long war. Israel will find and kill everyone involved with the Oct. 7 attack.
The part played by the UN and UN affiliated groups is disgusting, and will be addressed in due time, I am sure.
Unlike Bidens America, Israel defends its citizens.; 6/9/24, 8:47 PM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: I love that: “We have the diamond in our hand.” I had lost hope of any other live hostages. The planning and execution are a great story.; 6/9/24, 8:50 PM
Paul said...: What is a gas is this...

"Gaza Health Ministry" said 274 Palestinians were killed and around 700 were wounded. ... oh the same 'Ministry' IS RAN BY HAMAS... so do you believe HAMAS?

And our VP Harris apparently does believe them...; 6/9/24, 8:55 PM
Lance said...: "This account is based on more than a dozen interviews with former and current Israeli military officials, family members of hostages and Palestinian eyewitnesses"

Is that tacit admission that WaPo doesn't interview dozens of witnesses for their other articles?; 6/9/24, 9:11 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: So, the hostages were just held in a civilian home. not some torture dungeon. They don't seem to have been mistreated. Good their safe. Now maybe the Palestinian hostages held by Israel can be released in an exchange.

Any good to know that Israeli fan boys are OK with 247 palestinians being killed to rescue 4 hostages. Using those "rules" it was OK for Hamas to kill 1000 Israelis to avenge the death of 4 Hamas Fighters. Right? And since Israel has killed over 600 palestinians on the West Bank since 2019, and using Israeli fan boy logic Hamas can kill over 12000 Israelis in retaliation.

Right? LOL. Of course that's assuming Israeli fan boys think we are equal under God and there's one rule for everyone, Jews and Non-jews. And don't believe Jews are worth more than brown skinned non-Jews. Right?; 6/9/24, 9:17 PM
Wa St Blogger said...: If hadn't before RCOcean has just proven he doesn't understand moral equivalency. He is amazingly idiotic.

I am not "OK" with killing 247 people. I am totally ok with the military rescuing 4 people. I am ok that the people trying to prevent that rescue ended up killed for their efforts. Anyone complicit in a kidnapping do run the risk of injury or death, and for that I am not shedding a tear. As I said before, Hamas had options. They chose portly and suffered for it.

What did NOT happen was that Israel did not calmly pick up 4 people who were just sitting around watching Oprah and eating Bob Bons and then summarily execute 247 people in retaliation. There was a rescue of kidnap victims, and there was an attempt by Hamas to thwart it, and that resulted in a lot of deaths. The good guys were the Israelis. Period. RCOcean is an ass, an idiot, and an apologist for rape and kidnapping.

247 Palestinians would be alive today if Hamas had returned the hostages. They preferred the engage in fighting to retain them, instead.; 6/9/24, 9:32 PM
~ Gordon Pasha said...: In 1944 the United States raided a Japanese POW camp at Cabanatuann, P.I., killing over 1000 Japanese to rescue some 500 Americans and other Europeans from forced captivity. They made a movie of the rescue, I hope they make one of this rescue as well.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raid_at_Cabanatuan; 6/9/24, 9:35 PM
Wa St Blogger said...: And don't believe Jews are worth more than brown skinned non-Jews.

I don't give a flying fuck what race religion, or shade of melanin a kidnapper has. I judge people by their actions not their external traits. Kidnapping innocent people sort of pigeon-holes them into a less sympathetic status in my book.; 6/9/24, 9:37 PM
Donatello Nobody said...: RCOCEAN: You obviously don’t understand. ANY number of savages or Islamists (but I repeat myself) may be extirpated in the course of rescuing innocent civilized human beings.; 6/9/24, 9:59 PM
retail lawyer said...: ANSWER protesters say 274 Palestinians is way too many dead to rescue 4 hostages. I think 4 hostages are worth killing every last Palestinian for, especially the American hostages. But its a good start.; 6/9/24, 10:00 PM
effinayright said...: RC, if you continue to believe Hamas's much-derided casualty figures, I have a bridge in Baltimore to sell you.

Cheap.

Cash only.; 6/9/24, 10:02 PM
Tim said...: 247 dead? Not enough.; 6/9/24, 10:46 PM
Narayanan said...: I have a bridge in Baltimore ...
also included container ship?; 6/9/24, 10:46 PM
Bunkypotatohead said...: Be the first one on your block
To have your martyr come home in a box.; 6/9/24, 10:50 PM
OldManRick said...: The saddest part of this whole thing is reading the comments on the WaPo article. The hatred of Israel is proudly on display. Washington DC needs to be de-Nazified.

WW2 taught us that the most effective way way to long term peace was total victory and unconditional surrender by the losers. Followed by benevolent reform. We've gone over three quarters of a century without any European or Japanese attempting to start another war.

The readers of the post want another Versailles Treaty solution that just puts off the final reckoning for a couple of more years and allows the two parties to stew in anger/fear for the Israelis and hatred/anti-Semitism for the Palestinians until this cycle repeats itself. Hamas has promised that as long as they exist it will repeat itself.

There will be no Marshall Plan for Gaza as long as the rebuilding is a rebuilding of their terrorist capabilities. There will be no MacArthur Constitution for Gaza as long as the Israeli hating UN is involved in the reform of Gaza.; 6/9/24, 11:00 PM
Eva Marie said...: “So, the hostages were just held in a civilian home“
Civilians DO NOT hold hostages.
What’s the matter with you?; 6/9/24, 11:38 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: "Anyone complicit in a kidnapping do run the risk of injury or death, and for that I am not shedding a tear."

247 civilians in the refugee camp were not "complicit" in a "Kidnapping". Israel has been found to be committing war crimes and violations of International Law by the iCC. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Netenyahu and his thug Defense Minister. This is just another crime to be added to the list.

Frankly, I get a little tired of arguing with moral midgets. Why not just be honest and say you don't care how many Gazan civilians get killed opposing them? And you're OK with war crimes. And you're OK with them stealing Palestinian land. Because...you like israel. Thats Senator Lindsey Goober's position. He hates "Muslims and A-rabs" and loves Jews, so anything Israel does is OK with him. Hell, they could probably kill a hundred thouand palestinians, or drop an A=bomb on Tehran and Miss Lindsey wouldn't bat an eye.

That's immoral and represents Caveman thinking but...at least its honest.; 6/9/24, 11:46 PM
RJ said...: The feel good story of the weekend!; 6/9/24, 11:53 PM
holdfast said...: If the hostages were held in an actual "civilian" home, then why couldn't they just leave?

Oh, right. Because it was a Hamas safe-house, run by Hamas operatives who happened to have day jobs as a journalist and a UN doctor. Not sure if those "jobs" are better or worse than just being a Hamas terrorist?

Kidding, being a journalist for Al Jizzeera is definitely worse.; 6/10/24, 12:34 AM
Readering said...: Outside the US Israel is cutting itself off from the rest of the world by demonstrating again and again that Palestinian lives don't matter. Sure lots of places devalue lives, and Israel has the Bomb, so isolation may not matter decisively for quite a few years. But the key event of the weekend was not the rescue of 4 hostages, but the breakup of the government over its inability to come up with a plan for what to do when the war ends.; 6/10/24, 12:36 AM
Eva Marie said...: “inability to come up with a plan for what to do when the war ends“
What were the plans for what to do when WWII ended? Do you think any plans made in 1940, ‘41, ‘42’ ‘43, ‘44 - that they would still be valid in 1945?
It is absurd to plan for a war’s end when the war is being fought.
What are the Ukrainian plans for what to do when their war ends?
What are Russia’s plans for what to do when their war ends?; 6/10/24, 1:22 AM
Achilles said...: RCOCEAN II said...

247 civilians in the refugee camp were not "complicit" in a "Kidnapping". Israel has been found to be committing war crimes and violations of International Law by the iCC. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Netenyahu and his thug Defense Minister. This is just another crime to be added to the list.

Frankly, I get a little tired of arguing with moral midgets. Why not just be honest and say you don't care how many Gazan civilians get killed opposing them? And you're OK with war crimes. And you're OK with them stealing Palestinian land. Because...you like israel. Thats Senator Lindsey Goober's position. He hates "Muslims and A-rabs" and loves Jews, so anything Israel does is OK with him. Hell, they could probably kill a hundred thouand palestinians, or drop an A=bomb on Tehran and Miss Lindsey wouldn't bat an eye.

That's immoral and represents Caveman thinking but...at least its honest.

It is just silly stuff out of you at this point.

You are just a silly person.; 6/10/24, 1:51 AM
Achilles said...: The only reason "Palestinians are dying is because Hamas is still holding hostages.

Period.

If Hamas is allowed to survive this war then more Palestinians will die in the future. They need to become a part of one of the peaceful tribes in the area.; 6/10/24, 1:55 AM
Readering said...: Eva Marie: For WW2 the short answer is yes. The planning for the end of WW2 is a very interesting subject. Also for decades a very controversial politically since it ties into the origins of the Cold War that followed soon after. Google "betrayal at yalta", not that I take that view.; 6/10/24, 2:46 AM
wendybar said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 6/10/24, 3:38 AM
wendybar said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 6/10/24, 3:41 AM
wendybar said...: Actions have consequences....

Is it okay to kidnap someone as long as they are fed and taken care of?? Does THAT make sense???; 6/10/24, 3:44 AM
Political Junkie said...: Why do Chuck, Rich, Gadfly, RC, other lefty posters never challenge/confront ROcean I and II on his Jew hating?; 6/10/24, 5:16 AM
Eva Marie said...: “For WWIi the short answer is yes. “
So in ‘41 the planning was already in place for the aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Really?; 6/10/24, 5:19 AM
BUMBLE BEE said...: If martyrdom is the best 'life outcome', the IDF is doing God's work.; 6/10/24, 5:27 AM
Mal said...: Taken, starring Liam Neeson; 6/10/24, 5:53 AM
Christopher B said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 6/10/24, 6:08 AM
Christopher B said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 6/10/24, 6:09 AM
Christopher B said...: Political Junkie said...
Why do Chuck, Rich, Gadfly, RC, other lefty posters never challenge/confront ROcean I and II on his Jew hating?

6/10/24, 5:16 AM

Readering just a few posts above this basically agrees with RCOCEAN II(...Israel is cutting itself off from the rest of the world by demonstrating again and again that Palestinian lives don't matter.). Pure Pro-Hamas bullshit

Don't forget to add Inga and Lefty Mark to the list.

As Glenn Reynolds used to say, they aren't anti-war, they're on the other side. All of them.; 6/10/24, 6:11 AM
Rocco said...: Mal said...
“Taken, starring Liam Neeson.”

Babylon Bee: Liam Neeson Criticized For Killing 31 Innocent Human Traffickers Just To Get Back One Hostage

https://babylonbee.com/news/liam-neeson-criticized-for-killing-31-innocent-human-traffickers-just-to-get-back-one-hostage/; 6/10/24, 6:22 AM
Bob Boyd said...: The guy had to commandeer his own tuk-tuk?; 6/10/24, 6:25 AM
Leland said...: Hamas was ok with 3 Palestinians for every returned hostage a year ago.; 6/10/24, 6:38 AM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: Jordanians and Israelis are generally the same ethnic group so only a lying racist would further a story that tries to position Israel's war for survival as a “brown people vs white” conflict. Only a fool would say such a thing given the rich diversity of Israel’s population compared to its neighbors’. Further, under Common Law, the Geneva Convention and current laws of war holding civilians is a war crime punishable by death. Using human shields is a war crime. Basing offensive operations in and around hospitals and schools is a war crime.

Only a fool or an evil person would continue to defend a war started by people who attacked during a ceasefire, took civilian hostages and continues the war by repeatedly committing war crimes.; 6/10/24, 6:41 AM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: How many American hostages are still being held?; 6/10/24, 6:41 AM
Old and slow said...: "moral midgets" says rcocean while patting himself on the back for his moral superiority. What a moron.; 6/10/24, 6:47 AM
MikeM said...: Israel: where Military Intelligence is not an oxymoron.; 6/10/24, 7:02 AM
Heartless Aztec said...: Kudos to the Althouse commenters. We are a better read than the WaPo or NYT articles that Althouse feed us.
I won't add my 2¢ in here as it would be a superfluous exercise in shit kicking, not that the egregious piling on of RCocean would bother in the least.
I'll raise a glass to Team IDF this afternoon.; 6/10/24, 7:06 AM
Birches said...: I expected a better article since it was the WaPo. I also expected less annoying video ads since there's a paywall.

No wonder things are going down for them.

Thanks for the link Althouse. It's good to see how the other side lives every once in awhile.; 6/10/24, 7:15 AM
Rusty said...: RCOCEAN II said...
So, the hostages were just held in a civilian home. not some torture dungeon.

So. You condone kidnapping as long as the hostages are warm and well fed. You understand that the hostages wouldn't be in just any civilaian house. Hamas wouldn't trust anyone not affiliated with Hamas.

You got a really shit world view, rocean. I've met bloodthirsty Mexican street whores with more compassion than you.; 6/10/24, 7:16 AM
Cappy said...: Good work men!; 6/10/24, 7:29 AM
Bob Boyd said...: I've met bloodthirsty Mexican street whores...

I want to hear about that.; 6/10/24, 7:36 AM
Bob Boyd said...: "I don't know what I was thinking. I should have just paid her."
Bandaged from head to foot, hot rodent boyfriend tearfully describes horrifying encounter with bloodthirsty Mexican street whore.; 6/10/24, 7:47 AM
LakeLevel said...: Why is it not being reported that Noa Argamani was being used as a slave. She was made to work for the family she was living with and. If she didn't work she was punished. If she tried to leave she was threatened with harsh prison or death. How is that not slavery? Good luck getting AP NYT CBS NBC WP CNN to report that.; 6/10/24, 7:54 AM
narciso said...: Because they are all on qatars payroll; 6/10/24, 7:58 AM
narciso said...: Remember how they all cried for khashoggi same deal; 6/10/24, 8:00 AM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: I am amazed at the depth of pro-Hamas spin here, even if it's just a few commenters. Before the facts are even sorted out and reported, people here will argue without any evidence that the hostages were treated well! Unbelievable. I hope you never have to endure a family member being kidnapped or held hostage, but I doubt you would adopt Stockholm Syndrome as fast as you have here. Worse than the tiny minority (but vocal) Hamas supporters is the absolute silence by Biden when it comes to American hostages, their families here, their condition, the efforts, if any, to bring them home.

Shame on our media talking heads who parrot the Hamas spokesweasels but never ASK Biden about our hostages, never show the families, never play "Tie A Yellow Ribbon" or show even the least curiosity about whether they are dead or alive.; 6/10/24, 8:08 AM
narciso said...: You can tell ghuls from the humans also we know what the koran teaches about prizes of war dont we?; 6/10/24, 8:17 AM
Big Mike said...: Frankly, I get a little tired of arguing with moral midgets.

So why don’t you shut up and elsewhere to comment? As for me, I was raised to believe that people who reflexively hate blacks because their skin is dark or who hate Jews because they’re Jewish are the genuine moral midgets.

Why not just be honest and say you don't care how many Gazan civilians get killed opposing them?

I really don’t. Someone starts a war, he (and the people who support him in his bloodthirsty antisemitism) certainly have no right to attempt dictate the rules of engagement. If the Gazans don’t like being killed perhaps they should surrender?

And you're OK with war crimes.

The only war crimes I’ve heard of are the ones that Hamas inflicted on Israelis on October 7th. That you’re gullible enough to believe death tolls put out by Hamas is your intellectual failing, not mine.

And you're OK with them stealing Palestinian land.

They didn’t “steal” anything. They won it in a war of extermination against Jews begun by Arabs in 1948. Every time the Arabs renewed that conflict (in 1956, 1967, 1973, 1982, 2006, and last October 7th) they’ve lost more territory. This time won’t be any different.

Because...you like israel. [sic]

Not nearly as much as I hate people who think rape is a legitimate military tactic. Includes you.; 6/10/24, 8:19 AM
donald said...: Frankly, you destroy all of your arguments with your false characterization of EVERYTHING ROCEAN.; 6/10/24, 8:22 AM
Yancey Ward said...: What was particularly pathetic was the feeble attempts of the Biden Administration to get some credit for this operation even though it was pretty obvious the Israelis didn't trust them enough to let them know about the planned rescue.; 6/10/24, 8:35 AM
Wa St Blogger said...: 247 civilians in the refugee camp were not "complicit" in a "Kidnapping".

This is why you have no credibility.

Hospital officials say more than 200 people were killed in central Gaza.

This is reported by the NY Times.

1. Note that this does not say civilians. Thus, likely many were fighters. Several were residents of the houses holding the hostages.
2. There were hostages in those homes.
3. Hamas held those hostages in a civilian home in a refugee area. HAMAS put these lives in danger. You don't seem too concerned about the fact they use human shields.

Maybe you should reserve your contempt for Hamas if you are so fucking concerned about civilian deaths. Use your platform to give them some advice. Tell them:

1. If you are going to take hostages, don't
2. But if you do, don't hide them in houses.
3. But even then, don't have those houses occupied by non-combatants
4. And finally, don't house them in refugee camps.

But you don't, you hold only contempt for the people who are hostages and the people who risk their lives to save them. Never for the people who risk the lives of others because they are too cowardly to face their enemy in the open and instead hide among civilians so that they can USE THE DEATHS of those civilians to make RCOCEAN cry.; 6/10/24, 8:45 AM
wendybar said...: LakeLevel said...
Why is it not being reported that Noa Argamani was being used as a slave. She was made to work for the family she was living with and. If she didn't work she was punished. If she tried to leave she was threatened with harsh prison or death. How is that not slavery? Good luck getting AP NYT CBS NBC WP CNN to report that.

6/10/24, 7:54 AM

Democrats are the party OF Slavery. Why do you think they are importing so many uneducated illegals?? Who else will clean their toilets and take care of their kids and yards?? No big surprise that they aren't upset at that....; 6/10/24, 8:47 AM
Rusty said...: Bob Boyd said...
I've met bloodthirsty Mexican street whores...

"I want to hear about that."

It was the 70s. Either alchahol or drugs were involved. Or both.; 6/10/24, 9:30 AM
Bob Boyd said...: History will remember the 70's as a golden age for bloodthirsty Mexican street whores.; 6/10/24, 9:42 AM
Leland said...: Shame on you Meade for presuming Inga and Chuck could lower themselves to denounce racism. Only Trumpist, whatever they are in Inga’s head, would do such a thing.; 6/10/24, 9:43 AM
Rocco said...: RCOCEAN II said...
“Frankly, I get a little tired of arguing with moral midgets.”

That’s racist!

The proper term is “moral little people”.; 6/10/24, 9:44 AM
n.n said...: Hamas should be more like Fatah is and less like it was and sympathetic interests should not have aided and abetted terrorism but mitigated progress. Ethics, indeed.; 6/10/24, 10:05 AM
mikee said...: Unconditional surrender of Hamas and all Gazan Hamas supporters, military trials for all illegal combatants and war criminals of Hamas and Gaza, and then there can be progress for the Palestinian people. Otherwise the current conflict, which is the conflict that was going on its second decade when I was born during Eisenhower's presidency, will continue.; 6/10/24, 10:44 AM
Mike (MJB Wolf) said...: In my experience the immoral midgets, you know like George Stephanopoulos, are far more dangerous than moral ones. Sneaky little bastards.; 6/10/24, 10:57 AM
Gospace said...: OldManRick said...
...
WW2 taught us that the most effective way way to long term peace was total victory and unconditional surrender by the losers. Followed by benevolent reform. We've gone over three quarters of a century without any European or Japanese attempting to start another war.

True of Japan, Germany, and Italy. But Europe as a whole? Lots of little wars. Not so little for those killed or maimed, but lots of them.; 6/10/24, 11:20 AM
mindnumbrobot said...: Mike (MJB Wolf)... I am amazed at the depth of pro-Hamas spin here, even if it's just a few commenters. Before the facts are even sorted out...

Facts are irrelevant. They have their opinion, dressed up as compassion and moral superiority, but the sad reality is they're overwhelmed with bigotry and hatred. They don't care about facts, thus I don't care about their opinion.; 6/10/24, 11:47 AM
Readering said...: I haven't noticed any pro Hamas comments here. To criticize Israel's conduct of the invasion is not to support terrorist Hamas. A lot of pro Hamas folks out there. But they don't comment here.; 6/10/24, 12:26 PM
effinayright said...: Political Junkie said...
Why do Chuck, Rich, Gadfly, RC, other lefty posters never challenge/confront ROcean I and II on his Jew hating?
********************

The question answers itself.; 6/10/24, 12:53 PM
Hassayamper said...: True of Japan, Germany, and Italy. But Europe as a whole? Lots of little wars. Not so little for those killed or maimed, but lots of them.

Lots of them, you say? Other than Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the war in the Balkans after Yugoslavia split up, to which wars are you referring? The Codfish War between Iceland and the U.K.?; 6/10/24, 12:55 PM
Rusty said...: Bob Boyd said...
"History will remember the 70's as a golden age for bloodthirsty Mexican street whores."
Well. It was for me.
I did learn a valuable lesson.; 6/10/24, 1:46 PM
JIM said...: Democrats have a Hamas problem, including the "pro-palestine" mobs, they won't be able to sweep under the rug no matter how their media puppets spin it.; 6/10/24, 2:09 PM
Robin Goodfellow said...: I’m sure there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth on the left, and much rending of garments.; 6/10/24, 5:21 PM
Immanuel Rant said...: All I can say is that if one of my kids was kidnapped and held hostage, the kidnapper *better* have at least 246 colleagues with him.; 6/10/24, 9:08 PM