After 738 days of separation, Israeli couple Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or were reunited following Or’s release as part of a truce between Israel and Hamas. Or returned on Monday through the Re’im crossing, immediately embracing Noa in a reunion that ended more than two years of uncertainty and captivity. The couple had been among 251 Israelis taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7, 2023 attacks, an incident that left a lasting mark on Israel and the international community.
The abduction occurred during the Nova music festival in Israel’s western Negev desert, held on the Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret. The festival, intended as a gathering of friends and music lovers, became one of the first targets in Hamas’s surprise incursion. Militants stormed the event in the early hours, firing indiscriminately at the crowd. During the chaos, Noa was separated from Or and forced onto a motorbike, while Or was taken by another group of captors. A video of Noa’s abduction, showing her reaching for Or while being restrained, became widely circulated, highlighting the human toll of the attacks.
During captivity, Noa was held alongside two male hostages, Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky, both of whom later died. She faced emotional abuse and forced indoctrination, including reading the Quran and studying Islamic rulings, while being moved between multiple apartments in Gaza’s al-Nuseirat refugee camp. Occasionally, she was allowed outside under disguise but remained unaware of Or’s condition or whereabouts. In social media statements after her release, Noa recounted her constant fear of discovering whether Or was alive or had been killed.
Or’s captivity was similarly grueling. Confined in tunnels and small enclosures, he received minimal food and long periods of isolation. His father described the difficult conditions to the BBC, noting that Or had almost no contact with the outside world and limited information about Noa or the broader conflict. Guards around him had relatives affected by Israeli strikes, adding to the uncertainty and danger. At one point, Or attempted to escape, but the effort failed.
Throughout their captivity, the couple’s families advocated tirelessly for their release. Noa’s parents, Liora and Yaakov, were vocal about the need for action. Liora, battling brain cancer, made a public plea emphasizing her desire to see her daughter one last time. International attention also pressured Hamas to consider negotiations for the release of hostages.
The reunion at Re’im crossing marked the end of a prolonged and distressing chapter for the couple and their families. After nearly two years of uncertainty, the return of Avinatan Or has allowed the couple to begin a path toward healing, closing a difficult period in their lives. The incident remains a poignant example of the human cost of conflict and the endurance of those caught in hostage situations