Israeli former hostage Noa Argamani addressed the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, sharing details of her experience on October 7, 2023 — when Hamas terrorists breached the border into Israel and slaughtered more than 1200 — and over more than eight months as a hostage in Gaza.
Argamani, who was held by Hamas for 246 days before her release, called for all remaining hostages to be returned home: “We are talking about innocent people, taken from their bed, from a dance party, from their simple life, into a pure hell.”
“We are talking about innocent people, taken from their bed, from a dance party, from their simple life, into a pure hell.”
🎗Rescued hostage Noa Argamani bravely addresses the UN Security Council this morning pic.twitter.com/6TUN46ksBG
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) February 25, 2025
At one point, Argamani described in detail an incident that occurred after 54 days in captivity — and the deaths of two of her friends, Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky.
“It was just me, Itay Svirsky, and Yossi Sharabi. One evening, the house we were held in was blown up, and we found ourselves in the destruction. Itay was able to stand up, but Yossi and I were stuck under the rubbles,” she said. “I couldn’t move, I couldn’t breathe—I thought it’s going to be my last seconds of my life.”
“I screamed so loud so someone would hear me, and I heard Yossi screaming too. But after a few seconds, I stopped hearing from Yossi. I was pulled out of the rubbles and I tried to help Yossi. But when we got to him, it was already too late,” she continued.
“Itay and I had to find somewhere else to hide, so one of our captors took us to another house. But two days later, Itay was murdered by the same captor. Itay was with me since the first day of captivity. We told each other everything—he was my true soulmate. [May their memories] be a blessing,” Argamani said.
Today at the UN security meeting, Noa Argamani told the council about the horrific deaths of Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky.
Every second in captivity, the hostages are at the mercy of Hamas. And we know what their mercy looks like.
We must bring them home now! pic.twitter.com/8ICjqWBaON
— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) February 25, 2025
Argamani also recalled the fear that the time would never come for her own release from her captors, saying, “I know what it feels like to be left behind — to watch other hostages reunite with their families while I remained in captivity, wondering if my turn would ever come.”
“I know what it feels like to be left behind—to watch other hostages reunite with their families while I remained in captivity, wondering if my turn would ever come.”
Former hostage Noa Argamani shared these haunting words with the UN Security Council. She was one of the few… pic.twitter.com/K0TgiDljnG
— Aviva Klompas (@AvivaKlompas) February 25, 2025
She continued to call for the release of the remaining hostages, including her partner, saying, “As I speak, there are still 63 hostages living in a nightmare, including my partner Avinatan Or. Our life cannot go without them.”
“As I speak, there are still 63 hostages living in a nightmare, including my partner Avinatan Or.”
“Our life cannot go without them.”
— Rescued hostage Noa Argamani addresses the UN Security Council pic.twitter.com/GX2CRKr8Oq
— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) February 25, 2025
