IDF releases previously classified footage of Operation Arnon hostage rescue from Gaza

The IDF on Sunday released previously classified video footage from Operation Arnon, the dramatic June 8, 2024, rescue of four hostages held by Hamas in central Gaza, offering new details of one of the most complex and daring missions of the war.

The newly released footage shows Israeli forces arriving simultaneously at two locations in the Gaza city of Nuseirat and engaging in close-quarters combat, including hand-to-hand struggles, with Hamas Nukhba Force terrorists guarding the hostages.

The operation rescued Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir Jan, and Andrey Kozlov, who had been abducted during Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The hostages were freed in a daylight raid carried out jointly by the IDF, Shin Bet, and the Israel Police's Counterterrorism Unit (YAMAM), with support from additional ground forces, and the Israeli Air Force and Navy units.

The release of the footage comes two years after the mission that became one of the most celebrated hostage rescue operations of the Israel-Hamas war. Much of the video and many operational details remained classified due to concerns about revealing intelligence sources, capabilities, and tactics that could be needed in future missions.

Two Years Since Operation Arnon.

Two years ago today, in a daring military operation, YAMAM operators of the Israel Police’s National Counter-Terrorism Unit, rescued hostages Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir Jan, and Andrey Kozlov, from captivity in Gaza.

The operation was… pic.twitter.com/efzmZiMtML

— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) June 7, 2026

The rescue was initially known as "Operation Seeds of Summer" before being renamed Operation Arnon in honor of Arnon Zamora, the YAMAM commander who was killed during the rescue.

Planning for the mission took place over several weeks. On multiple occasions, commanders reportedly called off planned operations at the last minute after observing changes in the conditions at the locations where the hostages were being held.

One factor that made the rescue possible was that the hostages were being held in civilian apartments above ground rather than in tunnels. At the same time, their location in the heart of a densely populated residential neighborhood created significant operational challenges and required extensive preparation to minimize risks to both the hostages and the rescue forces.

The mission also encountered last-minute complications. One of the assault team's vehicles broke down midway through the operation, delaying movement toward the helicopter extraction point.

According to accounts released later, supporting IDF units, particularly the 98th Reserve Division, helped overcome the setback and ensure the safe extraction of all four hostages.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar commanded the operation together from Shin Bet headquarters after receiving approval from the political leadership.

“There were difficult risks, and even after the Prime Minister and Shin Bet approved the raid, it was clear that this was a complex and challenging operation,” a senior government official told Channel 13 in the immediate aftermath of the raid.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added, “I approved the operation without hesitation despite the risks. I trust the IDF, the Shin Bet, the Israel Police, and the heroic warriors.”

Then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant added his own words of praise for the rescue teams, saying, “This is one of the most impressive, heroic operations I have seen throughout my 47 years in the security establishment. The forces of the IDF and the Shin Bet carried out an operation that cannot be surpassed, and all this in close cooperation between all the branches of the security system. This is the time to thank those who lead the security system in the IDF, the Shin Bet and the Yamam.”

Al Jazeera reported that more than 200 Palestinians were killed and many more wounded during the fighting surrounding the rescue operation. Israeli officials have argued that Hamas fighters operated throughout the area and fired on Israeli forces from multiple directions during the extraction.

Almost immediately after the rescue, discussion emerged about adapting the events into a Hollywood film. The release of previously classified footage on the operation's second anniversary may renew interest in that possibility.