Latest news with #Argamani
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Oct 7 hostage blasts 'terror sympathizers' who trapped her at event
About a dozen members of the University of Windsor's Palestinian Solidarity Group (PSG) surrounded the sole entrance and exit point at the venue, shouting 'Hamas is coming' as they intimidated attendees. 'I refuse to let terror sympathizers control the narrative,' Argamani said in a statement to X after the ordeal. Hamas came. Hamas kidnapped me. Hamas murdered my friends. But I won; I survived. Now, I speak for those who can't. I'll keep exposing Hamas' crimes and fighting for the hostages' release—including my partner, Avinatan.' Argamani's boyfriend, Avinatan Or (pictured together), remains in Hamas captivity, along with 49 other hostages. Organizers have decried the group's actions, insisting they were 'harassing' Argamani in an effort to silence her and pressure her to stop speaking out about the horrors she endured. Miriam Kaplan, who chaired the event, described the incident as 'a disgraceful attempt to intimidate a survivor.' She has called on the university to condemn the protest, maintaining: 'These students crossed the line from free speech into aggression.' No arrests were made, but Windsor Police said officers 'monitored the situation and ensured public safety' after receiving calls about a disturbance. The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said: 'Blocking a hostage survivor is unconscionable. This is not a protest but intimidation of a vulnerable witness to terror.' Argamani's presence at the event had been heavily promoted ahead of the incident. has contacted the school and PSG for comment. Argamani was rescued in a daring helicopter mission in June 2024 and has since gone on to become an outspoken survivor and critic of Hamas. She made it home just in time to say goodbye to her mom, who was dying of brain cancer. The brave survivor revealed she was held by a 'well-to-do' family but kept under armed guard, was rarely allowed to wash and never saw daylight as she was moved from house to house at night while dressed as an Arab in a bid to evade detection. Argamani was saved along with 21-year-old Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40, who were also at the Nova Festival when Hamas militants struck. She became one of the faces of the October 7 tragedy after horrifying footage went viral of her being kidnapped and taken from the Nova music festival on a motorbike. In a heartbreaking love letter to her captive love Avinatan, 30, who she met at Ben-Gurion University four years ago, Noa wrote of the October 7 horror, describing it as: 'That moment which the whole world witnessed – the moment when my heart was torn apart and has never recovered since.' 'I always promised you that we would conquer the world together, that we would grow old together, that I would be by your side through thick and thin. At that moment on October 7, I fought until the last minute so that we could go through everything together, side by side. Unfortunately, those were the last moments I saw you. Unlike the thousands of people who were murdered since October 7, you can still be saved.' Pictured: In this image from video obtained by the AP, Avinatan Or, second left, and his partner, Noa Argamani, not pictured, are seized by members of the Hamas militant group during an incursion into Israel on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023.
New York Post
30-06-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Freed hostage Noa Argamani slams ‘terror sympathizers' who trapped her, others at fundraising event shouting ‘Hamas is coming'
Former Hamas hostage Noa Argamani slammed 'terror sympathizers' who trapped her and others inside a Jewish fundraising event at a Canadian university while shouting threats that 'Hamas is coming.' Argamani, 27, was invited to speak at the Jewish National Fund (JNF) event at the University of Windsor on June 26, when about a dozen anti-Israel protesters — part of the University of Windsor's Palestinian Solidarity Group (PSG) — swarmed the the venue in an attempt to intimidate attendees. The frightening display did not put fear into the former hostage — who was freed in June 2024 after eight months in Hamas captivity — saying she will not be stopped speaking 'for those who can't.' 'Hamas came. Hamas kidnapped me. Hamas murdered my friends. But I won; I survived. Now, I speak for those who can't,' Argamani wrote on X. 'I'll keep exposing Hamas' crimes and fighting for the hostages' release—including my partner, Avinatan,' she said of her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, who remains in Hamas captivity with 49 other hostages. 'I refuse to let terror sympathizers control the narrative,' she added. In a video from the chaotic scene outside the venue, one of the anti-Israel protestors is heard shouting, 'Hamas is coming,' through a megaphone as attendees attempted to flee from the hostility, according to the X account FactsMatter. Event chair Miriam Kaplan condemned the PSG's blockade as 'a disgraceful attempt to intimidate a survivor,' and called on the university to speak out against the protesters. 4 Members of the University of Windsor's Palestinian Solidarity Group (PSG) surrounded a Jewish fundraiser event featuring freed Hamas hostage Noa Argamani. @psguwindsor/Instagram 4 One PSG member was recorded yelling, 'Hamas is coming.' @psguwindsor/Instagram 'These students crossed the line from free speech into aggression,' Kaplan told The J. Canada's Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs also slammed the protestors for their blockade. 'Blocking a hostage survivor is unconscionable. This is not a protest but intimidation of a vulnerable witness to terror,' it said. Argamani garnered international headlines when footage of her kidnapping during Hamas' massacre of Israelis at the Nova music festival on Oct. 7, 2023, went viral. In the chilling video, a terrorist drove away with Argamani on the back of his motorbike as she pleaded, 'Don't kill me!' 4 Argamani and her boyfriend Avinatan Or. Facebook After 246 days in captivity, Argamani was one of four Israelis freed in a daring daylight mission on June 8, 2024 that saw Israeli troops and police raid a Hamas compound in a hail of gunfire to rescue the hostages. Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40, who were also at the Nova Festival when Hamas attacked and took them hostage, were also freed with her. Argamani has since become one of the most vocal advocates for a hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, seeking to free Or and the remaining captives. 4 Argamani garnered international headlines when footage of her kidnapping during Hamas' massacre of Israelis at the Nova music festival on Oct. 7, 2023, went viral. Speaking to a room full of G7 embassy representatives in Tokyo last year, Argamani described her survival in Gaza as a 'miracle.' 'Every night I was falling asleep and thinking, this may be the last night of my life,' Argamani said. 'And in this moment that I'm still sitting with you, it's a miracle that I'm here. It's a miracle because I survived October 7, and I survived this bombing, and I survived also the rescue,' she noted, referring to Israel's counteroffensive in the Gaza Strip and the risky rescue mission. During her address, she also pressed the world leaders to secure the release of the remaining hostages, including her boyfriend, Or. Or's last known sign of life was in mid-March, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Vancouver Sun
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Former Hamas hostage condemns anti-Israel protest blocking Canadian speaking event
A Hamas captivity survivor on a speaking tour in Canada this month said she won't 'let terror sympathizers control the narrative' after anti-Israel demonstrators allegedly blocked the exit of her venue last week. Noa Argamani, 27, was in Windsor, Ont., as part of a Jewish National Fund (JNF) fundraising event at the University of Windsor, which reportedly attracted members of the school's Palestinian Solidarity Group. On Saturday, Argamani shared an X post from FactsMatter describing the activists surrounding the building, 'blocking the only entrance and shouting at the Jewish attendees. In a brief video clip attached, a voice is heard shouting, 'Hamas is coming.' Hamas came. Hamas kidnapped me. Hamas murdered my friends. But I won; I survived. Now, I speak for those who can't. I'll keep exposing Hamas' crimes and fighting for the hostages' release—including my partner, Avinatan. I refuse to let terror sympathizers control the narrative. The logo and username in the clip indicate it was a live broadcast from an account operated by the PSG. National Post is attempting to independently verify the source. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'Hamas came. Hamas kidnapped me. Hamas murdered my friends. But I won; I survived,' wrote Argamani, who spent 245 days in captivity after being abducted from the Nova music festival during the terrorist organization's Oct. 7, 2023, insurgency. The university student's abduction and that of her partner, Or Avinatan, were captured on video and released by Hamas on social media. Argamani was also seen in subsequent propaganda videos. She was rescued in June 2024 , but Avinatan remains in captivity. He is listed in a medical report detailing the condition of living hostages released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in June, per The Times of Israel, and described as suffering from weight loss and mental struggles. 'I'll keep exposing Hamas' crimes and fighting for the hostages' release—including my partner, Avinatan,' wrote Argamani, who's been a prominent advocate for her fellow captives since finding freedom. Argamani was speaking at a Negev Event, named for the large desert region in southern Israel, where the goal was to raise money for the Ashdod Rehabilitation & Therapy Centre, 'a vital project that will serve trauma victims, children with disabilities, and pediatric cancer patients in southern Israel,' according to JNF . Idit Shamir, Consul General of Israel in Toronto and Western Canada, also shared the clip on X , calling it 'psychological warfare against trauma survivors.' 'When Canadian campuses become no-go zones for Jews, when terror victims can't share their stories without facing mob intimidation, you're witnessing the normalisation of antisemitism,' she wrote. Speaking to The J, event chair Miriam Kaplan condemned the attempted intimidation and said the University should, too. 'These students crossed the line from free speech into aggression,' she said. The outlet also confirmed via the Windsor Police Service, who 'monitored the situation and ensured public safety,' that it was treated as a protest and no arrests were made. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Calgary Herald
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Former Hamas hostage condemns anti-Israel protest blocking Canadian speaking event
Article content A Hamas captivity survivor on a speaking tour in Canada this month said she won't 'let terror sympathizers control the narrative' after anti-Israel demonstrators allegedly blocked the exit of her venue last week. Article content Noa Argamani, 27, was in Windsor, Ont., as part of a Jewish National Fund (JNF) fundraising event at the University of Windsor, which reportedly attracted members of the school's Palestinian Solidarity Group. Article content On Saturday, Argamani shared an X post from FactsMatter describing the activists surrounding the building, 'blocking the only entrance and shouting at the Jewish attendees. In a brief video clip attached, a voice is heard shouting, 'Hamas is coming.' Article content Hamas came. Hamas kidnapped me. Hamas murdered my friends. But I won; I survived. Now, I speak for those who can't. I'll keep exposing Hamas' crimes and fighting for the hostages' release—including my partner, Avinatan. I refuse to let terror sympathizers control the narrative. — Noa Argamani (@ArgamaniNoa) June 28, 2025 Article content The logo and username in the clip indicate it was a live broadcast from an account operated by the PSG. National Post is attempting to independently verify the source. Article content 'Hamas came. Hamas kidnapped me. Hamas murdered my friends. But I won; I survived,' wrote Argamani, who spent 245 days in captivity after being abducted from the Nova music festival during the terrorist organization's Oct. 7, 2023, insurgency. Article content The university student's abduction and that of her partner, Or Avinatan, were captured on video and released by Hamas on social media. Argamani was also seen in subsequent propaganda videos. Article content Article content She was rescued in June 2024, but Avinatan remains in captivity. He is listed in a medical report detailing the condition of living hostages released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in June, per The Times of Israel, and described as suffering from weight loss and mental struggles. Article content Article content 'I'll keep exposing Hamas' crimes and fighting for the hostages' release—including my partner, Avinatan,' wrote Argamani, who's been a prominent advocate for her fellow captives since finding freedom. Article content Article content Argamani was speaking at a Negev Event, named for the large desert region in southern Israel, where the goal was to raise money for the Ashdod Rehabilitation & Therapy Centre, 'a vital project that will serve trauma victims, children with disabilities, and pediatric cancer patients in southern Israel,' according to JNF. Article content 'When Canadian campuses become no-go zones for Jews, when terror victims can't share their stories without facing mob intimidation, you're witnessing the normalisation of antisemitism,' she wrote.
Middle East Eye
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Noa Argamani walks the TIME 100 red carpet as social media asks her to demand end to war
Social media users are using Time magazine's inclusion of freed Israeli captive Noa Argamani in their list of most influential people of the year to highlight the plight of Palestinian victims of Israel's war on the Gaza Strip. On Monday, Argamani took to social media platform X, formerly Twitter, to share pictures of herself on the red carpet at the 2025 TIME 100 Summit and Gala in New York after being named one of the 100 most influential people earlier this month for her 'extraordinary courage and humanity in speaking out for the remaining hostages'. In the post she said '59 innocent people are still trapped… Please use your voice. Please use your influence. Help make sure the world does not look away'. While many people responded with messages of support and praised her for her 'bravery', others highlighted that over 52,000 Palestinians have been killed amid Israel's ongoing assault on the besieged enclave, and accused the magazine of pro-Israel bias. 'While Noa Argamani's story of survival and advocacy for hostages is deeply moving, her spotlight at the TIME100 event reflects a troubling trend of TIME becoming a platform for Israeli narratives,' said one user. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'TIME's decision to honor Argamani, paired with its history of amplifying Israeli perspectives, like its coverage of Israeli leaders while sidelining Palestinian voices suggests a bias that aligns with pro-Israel propaganda,' the user continued. The mere fact that Israeli hostages, most of them IDF, get to walk red carpets, whereas Palestinian hostages are forced to walk on blood-stained rubble of their dead and continue to do so without platform speaks volumes. — 👾 (@c0gnidissonance) April 30, 2025 Argamani was one of the roughly 250 people taken captive during the Hamas-led 7 October surprise attacks on southern Israel that killed close to 1200 people. She was later one of four captives rescued during a brutal operation and attack on Gaza in June 2024 that killed 236 Palestinians and wounded at least 400, mostly women and children. Several social media users responded to Argamani's post by drawing attention to the Palestinians who were killed during her rescue. 'Reminder that this lady was released through an American/Israeli operation that bombed and killed 300 people as "collateral damage"' - Abu Salem al-Maghribiy 'Reminder that this lady was released through an American/Israeli operation that bombed and killed 300 people as 'collateral damage',' posted one person. A writer from Gaza responded: 'To save you, bombs rained down on our heads like a storm. I was there, not far from the place; it was one of the most horrific days I have ever witnessed in my life.' Some people highlighted the conditions of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. 'As of April 2025, estimates suggest Israel is holding around 9,900 Palestinians in its prisons and detention centers, with many detained on what are often described as political grounds,' wrote one user. 'UN reports state that thousands of detainees, including children, have faced torture, including waterboarding, sleep deprivation, electric shocks, and sexual violence,' he continued, adding statistics about the abuse faced by Palestinian prisoners reported by Amnesty International and other rights groups. Not a single word for the 50,000+ Palestinians who are dead? What a shame. Unlike Palestinians, they aren't lucky like you to have to face the genocide DAILY by YOUR illegal state. Palestinian women, children are being killed daily and not even a word for them. Shocking — ∞ 🏴🇵🇸 (@IAmFazwan) April 29, 2025 Others called on Argamani to demand a ceasefire that would see the return of the remaining captives in Gaza. 'Maybe ask your government to stop indiscriminately bombing innocent civilians. They've had so many chances to bring them home and haven't, they've actually killed hostages,' said one user. Maybe ask your government to stop indiscriminately bombing innocent civilians. They've had so many chances to bring them home and haven't, they've actually killed hostages — Dominik Barabasz (@DominikBarabasz) April 29, 2025 Since 7 October, the Israeli government and army have been adamant that the best method to free the Israelis taken captive is through intense military assault. But despite a number of high-profile Israeli raids to free the captives, many of them have died as a result of Israeli bombing, with every confirmed death increasing pressure by relatives on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a ceasefire deal.
