Rescued hostage Noa Argamani was seen reunited with her sweetheart Avinatan Or – as it was revealed that he is a special forces hero in the ‘Israeli SAS’.
Emotional pictures show the couple dubbed ‘Romeo and Juliet’ together at last over two years after they were cruelly ripped apart from each other on October 7.
Noa, 27, was dragged away from Avinatan, 32, on a motorbike in a harrowing image that went viral and came to sadly embody the atrocity of that day.
Now photographs of them back together are not only symbolic of the nightmare being over – but also of love and commitment prevailing over evil.
Avinatan embraced his girlfriend, holding her tightly to him before he put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek as she beamed.
He held her face, staring into her eyes as she stared back at him overcome with joy. Avinatan was also seen with his parents, Ditza and Yaron, in hospital after making a heart with his hands to his supporters outside.
Noa was rescued during an Israeli military operation in Gaza in June 2024, alongside three other hostages.
It comes as it was revealed Avinatan serves with the elite Sayeret Matkal unit – considered one of the premier special forces units in Israel.
Rescued hostage Noa Argamani, pictured left, was tonight seen reunited with her sweetheart Avinatan Or, right
Emotional pictures show the couple dubbed ‘Romeo and Juliet’ together at last over two years after they were cruelly ripped apart from each other
Noa, 27, was dragged away from Avinatan, 32, on a motorbike in a harrowing image that went viral and came to sadly embody the atrocity of October 7, 2023
Based on the SAS, it was established in 1957 and even shares The Regiment’s motto – Who Dares Wins.
Dubbed ‘The Unit’, it conducts intelligence gathering deep behind enemy lines and is tasked with counter-terrorism and hostage rescue.
For two years Avinatan’s association with Sayeret Matkal has been hidden over fears of reprisals to him in captivity.
The Daily Mail told last week how Noa had to make a dash back to Israel when his release from captivity was suddenly announced while she was campaigning for him in Washington.
She was with a delegation of 24 hostages and volunteers who had to scramble back in time for the release jumping on eight separate flights.
Posting a picture of herself on top of suitcases in Washington after landing back on Saturday, she wrote: ‘Now it’s time to come home.’
In her speech to US Cabinet members and senior White House officials including Marco Rubio on the October 7 anniversary last week, Noa vowed to keep fighting for Avinatan.
She said: ‘Avinatan and I came to the Nova music festival just to celebrate our life.
Avinatan embraced his girlfriend, holding her tightly to him before he put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek as she beamed
The pair pictured in an old photo posted to Instagram this month. Noa was rescued during an Israeli military operation in Gaza in June 2024, alongside three other hostages
Avinatan, pictured second left, and Noa, not pictured, are seized by members of Hamas
‘We found ourselves in the darkest tunnels of Gaza. I cannot even begin to describe those terrible pictures.’
She said she had not seen Avinatan since being dragged away, her arms outstretched as he looked on helplessly, surrounded by armed terrorists.
‘I asked about Avinatan everywhere I went,’ she said.
‘I didn’t know if it was murdered or kidnapped, and I was afraid to know the answer.’
Noa also revealed that she feared every minute that her guards might ‘lose control and kill me’ and heartbreakingly declared: ‘I’m not the same person that I used to be.’
She said: ‘I saw it happen in front of my eyes, two of my friends that were with me since October 7 were murdered in captivity.
‘Yossi Sharabi and Itay Svirsky were brutally murdered and executed and I survived.’
Noa told those present: ‘I dedicate my life to bring my partner, Avinatan, and all the hostages back home.’
Fellow hostages finally released from Hamas captivity on Monday looked shockingly different as they were reunited with their families after 738 days in Gaza.
Alon Ohel was among the hostages freed today in a historic ceasefire deal. A new picture released today after he was freed shows his gaunt features
Sergev Kalfon arrives at a medical centre where he underwent a check up after being released
He was taken while he ran away with his friend. Hamas later published a video of his capture
The 20 remaining living hostages were released two years after being kidnapped when Hamas launched its deadly raid on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 others hostage.
They were at last returned following the Donald Trump-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas, which aims to bring an end to the devastating war in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of people and unleashed a humanitarian catastrophe.
In emotional scenes, captives reunited with parents, families, friends and loved ones.
Families, who have spent every day since October 7 fighting for their release from gruelling captivity in the enclave’s underground tunnel network, gathered in anticipation as tears flowed and hugs were exchanged.
‘After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent and the sirens are still,’ Donald Trump said in a historic speech at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.
But the brutal reality of two years in captivity was apparent amid a day of joy, with the hostages now looking radically different from the photographs taken before they were seized on October 7, 2023.
Behind the smiles, some appear to have dramatically lost weight, while others appear frail.
Footage released by Hamas showed Alon Ohel, 24, being taken by the militant group from the Nova festival.
Ariel Cunio’s eyes looked sunken as he was seen walking with IDF representatives after being freed
Cunio and his partner Arbel Yehud were taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Yehud was freed earlier this year but Cunio’s brother said the last message he received from him read: ‘We are in a horror movie’
Since his capture, Ohel has faced health issues. Last month, his family approved the release of a screenshot from a video that showed he had now gone blind in one eye.
Before he was captured, pictures showed him with a full beard and curly hair.
Pictures shared by the IDF of his reunion with his family today show the drastic weight he has lost. His beard and hair have also been shaved, revealing his gaunt features.
Sergev Kalfon, 27, was taken while running away with a fiend at the music festival. Later, a video of his abduction was released by the militant group.
In February 2025, released hostage, Ohad Ben Ami told Kalfon’s father they had been held with four others in a tunnel under ‘terrible conditions’.
Before his capture, pictures showed him enjoying a holiday with friends. However, photos released today show him as a shell of his former self, with the toll of years in captivity written across his expression.
Ariel Kunio was abducted on October 7 at Kibbutz Nir Oz. His brother, Eitan, who escaped the attack, says the last message from Ariel read: ‘We are in a horror movie.’
His partner, Arbel Yehud, was freed earlier, in January 2025, in a deal that saw Hamas hand over 25 living and eight dead captives.
Released Israeli hostage Evyatar David reacts upon arriving at Beilinson Hospital in the Rabin Medical Centre in Petah Tikva in central Israel on October 13, 2025
In August Hamas released a shocking clip of him with his skeleton visible from his thin skin
Released hostage Eitan Horn, in centre, appears visibly changed by his ordeal
Horn is said to have saved many people before he was taken by Hamas militants
Martan Zangauke was photographed in an embrace with his mother following his release
In new photos, his eyes look sunken as he walked with IDF representatives following his release. He tied his hair, which has now grown longer, into a bun and appears to have lost weight.
Evyatar David has undergone one of the most extreme transformations out of all the hostages. Photographs of him before the Hamas attacks show how vibrant the 24-year-old looked.
In the picture released today, he still appears severely underweight and malnourished.
Meanwhile, Eitan Horn has undergone a severe body transformation with a shocking weight loss revealed on Monday’s return, and Martan Zangauke shared an embrace with his mother after their reunion today.
Yosef Chaim Ohana’s father broke down in tears when they reunited earlier today, and Nimrod Cohen was seen under an Israeli flag, looking frail after his release.
Rom Bravslaski, 21, was draped in the Israeli flag as he greeted members of the IDF upon his release, as was Bar Kupershtein, whose family previously said he appeared injured with his body diminished by captivity.
In pictures today, Maxim Herkin appeared in high spirits as he greeted medics and soldiers.
An Israeli-Russian dual national, his friends were among those who were slaughtered in the attack.
Yosef Chaim Ohana’s father was emotional when he reunited with his son earlier today
After his release today, Nimrod Cohen was seen looking frail under an Israeli flag
Rom Braslavski was seen draped in the Israeli flag as he greeted members of the IDF
Bar Kupershtein in a reunion with his family earlier today
Maxim Herkin appeared in high spirits as he greeted soldiers and medics
Following his video with Kupershtein, he appeared alone in another video, bandaged, allegedly from an Israeli air strike.
Elkana Bohbot, 36, was working at the festival when abducted.
His wife Rikva recalled their last conversation: ‘In our last conversation … I told him, “It’s not just missiles, come home,” and he promised he would return.’
Media earlier cited released hostages saying Elkana developed a severe skin disease under harsh conditions.
Hamas released a video showing Guy and Alon Ohel being driven around Gaza City in August 2025. The pair were freed today.
After his release, David Cunio, 35, older brother of Ariel, was pictured laughing alongside a representative of the Israeli army at the Re’im military base in southern Israel.
Twins Gali and Ziv Berman are understood to have been separated in captivity but a photo after their release shows them warmly embracing.
Earlier this year, freed Matan Angrest’s family said they had been told by former hostages that he was suffering from untreated burns, infections, and chronic asthma.
Elkana Bohbot was seen hugging authorities after his release
Gilboa-Dalal was seen waving as he made his way to hospital for medical checks
Released Israeli hostage, David Cunio, held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, sits with a representative of the Israeli army after being released, as part of a prisoner-hostage swap and a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Reim, Israel October 13, 2025
Gali and Ziv Berman, 28-year-old twin brothers, were captured from their home on Kibbutz Kfar Aza with their neighbour, British-Israeli Emily Damari
In this photo provided by the Israeli Defense Forces, Matan Angrest speaks with an IDF representative in Israel on Monday, October 13, 2025
Eitan Mor seen in a helicopter with his family
Eitan Mor, seen in a helicopter with his family today, was kidnapped alongside his brother Yair from Nir Oz.
Yair was released in February 2025. At the time, Hamas showed a video of the brothers embracing.
Omri Miran, 48, was photographed reuniting with his wife Lishay Miran-Lavi, where he spoke to his daughters Roni, four, and two-year-old Alma on a tablet while at the Re’im base. He was the oldest living hostage to return to Israel today.
