(NewsNation) — After spending more than 8 months in Hamas captivity, Shlomi Ziv didn’t realize he was being rescued as Israeli soldiers carried out raids Saturday at two locations while under fire.
“They didn’t know they were about to be rescued,” Ziv’s cousin, Liat Ariel, told NewsNation. “They were shocked.”
Israel on Saturday carried out its largest hostage rescue operation since the latest war with Hamas began, taking four to safety out of central Gaza in a heavy air and ground assault, the Associated Press reported. The mission killed at least 210 Palestinians, including children and a baby, a Gaza health official said.
Those rescued were Ziv, Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan and Andrey Kozlov.
Ariel joined “NewsNation Now” last week, not knowing Ziv would return home soon after.
“It’s a miracle,” Ariel said when she returned to NewsNation Monday. “I would never have imagined a week before that we would have Shlomi today. I’m shocked, really. And I’m so happy.”
His cousin said that upon his return, Ziv was noticeably “tired and weak” but visibly grateful to be home.
“Everything looks OK. Of course, the mental difficulties will probably come up later because right now, with all the adrenaline and everything. We’re so happy right now, and he’s so grateful.”
To Ariel, Ziv’s return is a call to keep pushing for a hostage deal, she said.
“When we saw Shlomi, we realized that they are there,” Ariel said. “They’re alive. They’re surviving, and they’re waiting.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.