Gaza war: Israeli officer Arnon Zamora dies while rescuing hostages. Who was he?

Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, an officer of Israel's eliteYamam counter-terrorism unit, was martyredin a hostage rescue operation in the central Gaza Strip on Saturday (June 8). On this day, Israeli forces rescued four hostagesheld by Hamas since October last year in a raidthat Palestinian officials said killed more than 200 people.

The hostage rescue operation and an intense accompanying air assault took place in central Gaza's al-Nuseirat. An Israeli military spokespersonsaid the operation took place in the heart of a residential neighbourhood in Nuseirat where Hamas had kept thehostagesin two separate apartment blocks.

In the operation, Chief Inspector Zamora was critically wounded and later succumbed to his injuries.

Who was Arnon Zamora?

Arnon Zamora, 36,belonged to Israel'sSde David. He was a part of the Yamam unit of the Israeli police thatdeals with counter-terrorism operations. This unit has been active throughout the war between Israel and Hamas that started on October 7, 2023.

A report by The Times of Israel on Sunday said that on October 7, Zamora himself had led a battle against Hamas near the border community of Yad Mordechai, killing dozens of terrorists and preventing them from infiltrating the kibbutz.

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Following this battle, the 36-year-oldwas also involved in fighting terrorists at the Nahal Oz base and Kibbutz Be’eri.

Operation Arnon

During Saturday's hostage rescue operation, Zamora suffered severe injuries while he was commanding the teamthat rescued three of the four hostages. The Times of Israel report said that amajor gun battle erupted during the extraction, during which Zamora’s vehicle came under fire.

Other forces quickly reached the scene to rescue him and the hostages,bringing them to a makeshift helipad in Gaza. The 36-year-old was evacuatedto a hospital in Israel in a critical condition and succumbed to his injuries.

Following the announcement of his death,the name of the hostage rescue operation (in which he was killed) was changed from “Seeds of Summer” to “Operation Arnon.”

Zamora is survived by his wife and two children. He would be laid to rest later on Sundayin the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, the report added.

Tributes pour in

Tributes started pouring in for the martyred Yamam officer.

In a post on X, Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz said, "My deepest condolences on the death of the IDF commander and fighter, the late Commander Arnon Zamora, who fell in the heroic action to rescue the hostages from Hamas captivity in Gaza."

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)called Arnon a hero of Israel, a lover of the land, and a protector.

(With inputs from agencies)