Israeli couple who grew to become image of Oct. 7 tragedy are reunited with a kiss for the ages — two years after being torn aside | EUROtoday
Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
The younger Israeli couple who grew to become the image of the horrifying Oct. 7 assaults had a touching reunion Monday — two years after they have been torn aside on the Nova music competition.
Noa Argamani, 28, and Avinatan Or, 32, shared a young embrace following his launch from 738 days in Hamas captivity within the Gaza Strip.
Or was one of many 20 dwelling hostages freed as a part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, brokered by President Donald Trump, whereas Argamani was rescued by Israeli forces in June 2024 after spending 8 months in Hamas captivity.
Theirs was considered one of many emotional reunions to happen throughout Israel, Gaza and the West Bank after the ultimate dwelling hostages have been launched by Hamas, earlier than Israel launched greater than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The Israeli Defense Forces shared an image of Argamani and Or’s reunion on social media. “Reunited at last,” the submit was captioned.
“After two years of darkness, you’re finally back —back in Israel, back with Noa, back where love began,” the State of Israel additionally mentioned on its official Instagram web page, with the image of the couple embracing juxtaposed with photographs of them being taken away by Hamas militants.
Harrowing footage confirmed Argamani being taken away on a motorbike by terrorists from the competition web site in southern Israel two years in the past. “Don’t kill me,” Argamani was heard screaming as she reached out to her boyfriend, who might solely look on helplessly whereas being marched away by Hamas militants.
Since Argamani’s launch final 12 months, she has campaigned for the return of Or and the opposite hostages.
“I miss Avinatan more with every passing day. I hold onto hope, every single day, that this nightmare will end soon, and we’ll finally get to live the life we’ve dreamed of,” Argamani mentioned of her boyfriend on the Oct. 7 anniversary.
“I can’t describe the loneliness without you, you are my soulmate and nothing looks same when you are not around,” Argamani mentioned in one other latest social media submit. “Your clothes in my closet are waiting for you to wear them, along with a long list of dreams that I’m waiting to complete with you.”
Or misplaced between 30 to 40 p.c of his physique weight whereas in captivity within the Gaza Strip, in line with Israel’s Channel 12. The outlet studies that Or was stored in solitary captivity and didn’t meet some other hostages till his launch.
After his launch, Or reportedly requested to spend time alone with Argamani, the place she advised him about final 12 months’s rescue operation when she was freed, and the pair shared their “first cigarette together after two years.”
Tragically, Argamani’s mom died one month after her daughter’s launch following a mind tumor. By the time her daughter was launched, Liora Argamani was barely in a position to have a look at her as a result of her sickness, in line with her husband.
Among the 20 hostages additionally launched in the present day was 24-year-old Evyatar David, who was seen digging his personal grave in disturbing footage earlier this 12 months.
The footage confirmed him wanting skeletal as he marked his days in captivity on a chunk of paper pinned to the partitions of a tunnel.
David was pictured beaming in the present day alongside along with his mother and father Avishai and Galia David.
Ushering in what he referred to as a “new beginning” for the Middle East in the present day, Trump mentioned he was moved by seeing the Israeli hostages being reunited with their households.
“The hostages are reuniting. I’m just watching it backstage… the level of love and sorrow – I’ve never seen anything like it,” the president mentioned.
“It’s amazing when you see they haven’t seen their mother, their father, they haven’t seen them in such a long time.”
Meanwhile, Palestinians have been warned by Israel to not rejoice the discharge of their kinfolk after ministers permitted a remaining record of detainees freed as a part of the ceasefire deal.
The record included 1,718 Palestinians detained since 7 October 2023 and 250 prisoners serving life sentences.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-couple-noa-or-reunited-hostages-gaza-october-7-b2844647.html