Her mother, Liora Argamani's death was announced on Tuesday, per the Daily Mail, just over 3 weeks after her 26-year-old daughter was rescued from Hamas and returned home by Israeli special forces. While her daughter was in Hamas' captivity, Liora had feared she would not see her again as she was suffering from stage 4 cancer. She campaigned to have her daughter brought home so she could be with her before her passing.
The duo were reunited in June and Liora was able to "[spend] her final days alongside her daughter Noa, who returned from captivity, and her close family," according to a statement from Icholov Hospital where she was being treated in Tel Aviv. "We relay the family's request to respect its privacy at this difficult time."
After Noa's rescue, an IDF commander had told a local Israeli newspaper: "Her first question was whether her mother was still alive. I told her yes. She looked right and left at us and asked again if we were sure. We told her yes, 'that's why we came, to bring you back to your mother.'" However, while Liora was still alive, she was in a state where she could not express her emotions upon seeing her daughter, though doctors "believed that Liora understood" her daughter was with her.
"Unfortunately her mother is in a very difficult condition. They met, but it was very difficult," stated Noa's father, Yaakov. Noa then released a video the weekend after her return during which she stated "As an only child to my parents - and a daughter to a mother with a terminal illness - my biggest worry in captivity was for my parents. It's a great privilege to be here after 246 days in Hamas captivity. It's a great privilege to be by my mother's side after 8 months of uncertainty. It's a great privilege to see my parents, surrounded by so many good people."
She continued: "I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that there are still 120 hostages in Hamas captivity. Among them is Avinatan Or, my partner, from whom I was separated at the moment of abduction."
