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1 year ago
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The dying mother of Noa Argamani - a young woman abducted by Hamas terrorists on the back of a motorcycle - has issued a painful video plea to see her daughter before cancer takes her life.
Liora Argamani, who is currently battling stage four brain cancer, called on President Biden and the Red Cross to intervene, as she told her daughter: 'If I don't get to see you... please know I love you very much'.
Noa, 26, an only child, was snatched at the Supernova music festival during the Hamas incursion of Israel on October 7 and filmed begging for her life on the back of the bike, screaming 'Don't kill me!'
The footage, which was widely shared online, brought a wave of insufferable bone-chilling dread for Liora, as she was forced to watch her daughter suffer alongside the rest of the world.
'Hello, I am Liora Argamani,' she said to the camera today, seated in a large leather chair with posters of her abducted daughter adorned in the background, 'the mother of Noa Argamani, the beautiful girl who was kidnapped on October 7 by Hamas to Gaza.
Liora Argamani (right) fears she will not live long enough to see her only child, Noa, 26, who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7
Noa was seen being driven away on a motorbike and across the desert by Hamas terrorists
'I have cancer, brain cancer,' she said from family’s temporary apartment in Tel Aviv, near her cancer treatment clinic.
'I don't know how long I have left. I wish for the chance to see my Noa, at home.
'I call upon President Biden and the Red Cross to bring back my Noa as soon as possible so that I get the chance to see her.
'Noa, if I don't get to see you... please know that I love you very much. Please know that we did everything we could to get you released. The whole world loves you.'
So far, eighty-one hostages held in Gaza have been released, seven weeks after being taken captive during the 7 October attacks on Israel.
Sixty Israeli women and children were freed as part of a deal between Israel and Hamas, while a Russian-Israeli man not included in the deal was also freed by Hamas.
Nineteen Thai hostages and one Filipino were released as part of a separate deal between Hamas and the Egyptian government.
In addition, prior to the deals struck with Hamas, a further four Israeli hostages were released, and another was freed by Israeli forces.
On Tuesday 28 November, 10 Israeli and two Thai hostages were freed by Hamas.
Under the exchange, 180 Palestinian have been released from Israeli jails - plus hundreds of lorries of humanitarian aid, medical supplies and fuel have been allowed into Gaza.
But the pain-staking wait continues for Liora.
This video, which circulated on social media, allegedly shows Noa in captivity in Gaza
Noa's father, Yakov, says doctors have told the family his wife, Liora, does not have long to live
Earlier this week, she told the Mail on Sunday that she is only asking for one thing before she deteriorates.
'My one wish would be to hug and see Noa before something happens to me due to my medical condition, which would mean I won't be able to.
'I know she is a strong girl. We're waiting for her. Only the thought of her coming home keeps me strong.'
Liora is battling stage 4 brain cancer and her husband Yakov says that doctors don't have hope.
'I don't want to elaborate but it's not good. The doctors haven't given a good prognosis, but I believe it's in God's hands. I believe it will be OK.'
Aside from a photo of Noa drinking water in what appeared to be Gaza that was posted in a Hamas telegram channel, the family have had no news of her safety.
'We don't know anything more than what the media has reported. All we saw is the footage of Noa being kidnapped and then sitting on the sofa with a bottle of water.'
At his home in Tel Aviv the Argamanis are surrounded by friends and family who have arranged for a song to be performed in honour of Noa and her boyfriend Avi Natan, who was also abducted from the Nova festival.
On the walls are photos of the handsome couple, including the Mail on Sunday's front page headline, 'Don't kill me.' which sits on an empty chair, symbolising her absence.
Liora is too weak to join the family and friends in the living room and Yakov can't help but sob.
Along with hundreds of other young Israelis, Noa (pictured) had been enjoying a peace festival in the desert when they were forced to flee for their lives
Her boyfriend, Avi Nathan, distraught and helpless, was also seen on video being kidnapped
A photograph taken earlier this year of Avi Natan, who was also abducted from the Nova festival
'I'm going through the most difficult period of my life. Before Oct 7 I weighed 10 kilos more than I do now.
'The thoughts I have would rip you apart. And this is on top of my wife's poor state of health. It's hard to digest all of this.'
'As the only child, Noa is the person that organised her mother's care, her doctors, her medicine and everything.
'She had a tough year as she was studying at university and yet she still looked after mother.
'Now Noa is away, it's our responsibility to look after her family until she comes back.' says Noa's childhood friend Yan Gorjaltsan.
English (US)