UN hears first testimony from hostage rescued from Hamas

Freed hostage Noa Argamani urged world leaders to press for an extension of the current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas during her emotional Tuesday address to the UN Security Council. She said an extension of the first phase of the ceasefire, which expires this weekend, is needed to secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages. Argamani is the first hostage rescued from Gaza to address the United Nations and emphasized how hostages feel abandoned by world leaders.

Hamas terrorists kidnapped Argamani and her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, from the Nova music festival during the Oct. 7 attacks. She described her eight-month captivity as a waking nightmare, adding that her rescue last year was a miracle. Over 60 other hostages are still experiencing that nightmare, she said. The U.S. mission to the UN praised Argamani’s testimony and reiterated her call for a full and immediate hostage release during the impending phase two of ceasefire negotiations.

How did Palestinian representatives respond? Palestinian UN Ambassador Riyad Mansour also petitioned the council for greater compassion toward the suffering of Palestinian children. The children of Gaza are no less deserving of leaders' compassion and outrage for how they have been treated, Mansour said. He played a recording of what he said was a child’s final screams during a tank siege for the chamber. Mansour further accused Israel of inhumane treatment of prisoners and of abducting thousands of Palestinian civilians. Establishing a Palestinian state and allowing the people of Gaza to remain and rebuild is the only way forward, the Palestinian ambassador insisted.

Dig deeper: Read my report for more detail on ceasefire negotiations stalling out over the weekend.