Released for publication: Female IDF Corporal Ori Megidish has been freed during an Israeli military ground operation after being kidnapped during the October 7 Shabbat Simchat Torah morning massacre and invasion by Gaza’s Iranian-backed Hamas terrorist organization.
Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence organization announced the good news Monday in a joint statement with Israel Defense Forces.
“The soldier was medically examined, her condition is good, and she met with her family,” the statement said.
“The IDF and Shin Bet will continue to make every effort to bring about the release of the abductees.”
In the joint operation, the Shin Bet and the IDF exchanged gunfire with the Hamas kidnappers. No Israeli forces were wounded in the operation.
Megidish was an observation soldier who was taken hostage by Hamas when terrorists stormed the Nahal Oz army base on October 7. She is the first to be rescued out of some 239 hostages being held captive in Gaza by Hamas since the start of the Oct. 7 war launched against Israel.
The figure does not include the four hostages — two Israeli citizens and two dual US-Israeli nationals — who were released by the terrorist organization about a week ago.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended the Shin Bet and the IDF for “this important and moving achievement, which expresses our commitment to bring about the release of all the hostages. The entire people of Israel salute the ISA and the IDF,” he said.
Netanyahu also had a message for the terrorists responsible for abducting the captives: “To the terrorists of Hamas and ISIS I say – you are monsters. We will continue to pursue you. We will continue to hunt you. We will strike you until you fall at our feet.”
