Tragically, Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora succumbed to his injuries later that day, and the operation was renamed in his honor.
By Hezy Laing
On June 8, 2024, Israel launched one of its most audacious and high-stakes military operations in recent memory – Operation Arnon.
Named in honor of Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, a counter-terrorism officer who was fatally wounded during the mission, the operation successfully rescued four Israeli hostages held by Hamas in the heart of Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp.
The hostages—Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv – had been abducted during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on the Nova Music Festival.
For eight months, they were held in civilian homes deep within densely populated urban areas, guarded by armed terrorists.
Their rescue was the result of weeks of meticulous intelligence gathering and coordination between Israel’s Shin Bet, the IDF Intelligence Directorate, and the Hostage Task Force.
Unlike most covert operations, Operation Arnon was executed in broad daylight.
This bold decision was intended to catch Hamas off guard and minimize the risk of the hostages being moved or harmed.
The mission involved simultaneous raids on two separate buildings—one housing three of the hostages, and another where Noa Argamani was held alone.
Elite units from Yamam (Israel Police’s counter-terrorism force), the IDF’s Paratroopers Brigade, Shayetet 13 naval commandos, and the Givati Reconnaissance Unit were deployed, supported by air and naval forces that struck dozens of Hamas targets to provide cover and disrupt enemy coordination.
The extraction was not without complications.
One of the rescue vehicles broke down under fire, prompting a rapid response from backup forces to ensure the hostages’ safe evacuation.
They were airlifted out of Gaza by helicopter, returning to Israel to an outpouring of relief and celebration.
Tragically, Chief Inspector Zamora succumbed to his injuries later that day, and the operation was renamed in his honor.
Operation Arnon has drawn comparisons to the legendary Entebbe raid of 1976, both for its complexity and its success.
It reignited national and international debate over the ongoing war in Gaza, the fate of remaining hostages, and the balance between military action and diplomatic negotiation.
For many Israelis, the mission was a moment of triumph and heartbreak—a reminder of the human cost of conflict, and the extraordinary lengths to which the country will go to bring its citizens home.
