Two years of harrowing captivity have ended for Ariel Cunio and Avinatan Or, who were finally reunited with their loved ones on Monday. The emotional reunions mark a significant moment following their abduction during the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. Arbel Yehoud, Cunio’s girlfriend, expressed overwhelming joy at his return. “My Ariel is home again, and I am overwhelmed with emotion and joy,” she stated. “For over two years, the hope of holding Ariel again is what sustained and drove me every single day.” Cunio, 28, was among four individuals from Kibbutz Nir-Oz who remained hostages, with his brother David also freed on the same day. David’s wife and twin daughters had been released earlier during a November 2023 ceasefire. The small community of Nir-Oz suffered immense loss, with over a quarter of its residents killed or taken hostage. Arbel, who had been released in January, emphasized the ongoing need for action until all hostages are home. “We must not relent until the last hostage comes home. Only then can we heal as a society and as a people.” In another poignant reunion, Avinatan Or, 29, embraced his parents after his release. Footage captured his tearful reunion, where he expressed profound gratitude. Or was also reunited with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, who was captured with him at the Nova music festival. Argamani was rescued in a military operation in June 2024. Despite their separation and the trauma, their bond remained strong, as evidenced by Argamani’s recent social media posts expressing her deep longing for Or. These reunited couples, Arbel and Ariel, and Avinatan and Noa, exemplify the enduring power of love and hope amidst unimaginable adversity.
