Of the 20 hostages freed Monday after 738 days in Hamas captivity, six also returned to the arms of their loved ones—marking deeply emotional moments of reunion that followed years of fear, waiting, and relentless advocacy.
Avinatan Or and Noa Argamani were torn apart on October 7 when Hamas terrorists abducted Noa from the Nova music festival. On Monday, the two were finally reunited. In a video shared by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, Avinatan leaps toward her, wrapping her in a tight embrace as they collapse onto the bed together, kissing and holding one another.
Avinatan Or reunites with his family and partner, Noa Argamani
(Video: IDF)
They were not alone in finding long-awaited peace. Brothers David and Ariel Cunio were reunited with their partners, Sharon Aloni Cunio and Arbel Yehoud, both of whom had endured captivity themselves. Photos released after their return show David aboard a helicopter with Sharon, holding up a whiteboard message for their family: “You are the most amazing family in the world. Every day I said it—when I woke up and before I went to sleep. I love you.”
Brothers David and Ariel Cunio were reunited with their partners
(Video: IDF)
Later, David met his twin daughters, Emma and Yuli, who were just 3 years old when they were kidnapped and are also survivors of captivity.
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David Cunio meets his daughters Emma and Yuli who are also endured captivity
(Photo: GPO)
Ariel, who was held separately throughout his time in Gaza, reunited with Arbel, who had been released months earlier in the second hostage deal. They saw each other for the first time at the Re’im reception site. On a board inside the helicopter, Ariel had written: “Arbel Yehoud, I love you.”
In a statement after their reunion, Arbel said: “My Ariel is home, and I am overwhelmed with emotion. Since my release, I devoted myself to fighting for Ariel, for David, and for the return of all the hostages. Now that they’re home, we can finally begin our healing and recovery together—as a couple, as a family. We need quiet, air, and time.”
Omri Miran, who was abducted in front of his wife Lishi Lavi-Miran and their daughters Alma and Rani—then just two and a half and six months old—finally got to hold them again. At the hospital, 738 days after his abduction, they played together as the room filled with tears and laughter. “I’m on cloud nine,” Omri’s father Danny said. “One moment I’m crying, the next I’m laughing.”
Elkana Buchbut, 35, from Mevasseret Zion, worked in the Nova festival production team when he was abducted. His wife Rivka and son Ra’am had been waiting for him ever since. “How long I’ve waited for you,” Rivka said, hugging him for the first time in more than two years. Elkana replied, “It’s all right now. I’m whole. You did amazing. I’m proud of you—you’re a fighter.” In a later photo, Elkana was seen lifting his son Ra’am into the air, both smiling.
Elkana Buchbut meets his wife Rivka
(Video: IDF)
Rivka shared afterward: “For two years we waited for this moment—for our little family to be whole again. The man who is my home has finally come back to me and to Ra’am, who just turned five. Today, he can truly celebrate. He can call out ‘Dad,’ and Dad will answer, hug, and play.”
Matan Zangauker was reunited with his girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky, who had been freed earlier and waged a determined public campaign for his release alongside Matan’s mother, Einav. The two were kidnapped together from their home on Oct. 7, 2023, after living together for about a year and a half. Since her release in the first hostage deal that November, Ilana devoted every waking moment to keeping Matan’s name in the public eye.
“I couldn’t focus on my own recovery, physically or emotionally,” she said earlier. “I had to keep Matan in the public’s consciousness.”
In August, Ilana took part in a symbolic “wedding” protest in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square. Wearing a black veil, she stood beneath a chuppah held by other hostage parents, saying, “My curls, if you hadn’t been kidnapped, we would already be married.” Now, at last, Matan and Ilana are together again.