Israeli Hostage Avinatan Or, Kidnapped at Nova Festival, Returns Home After 738 Days
JERUSALEM – Avinatan Or, an Israeli man kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7th, has been reunited with his family after 738 days in Hamas captivity. The return marks a poignant moment for his family and a small victory amidst the ongoing conflict,offering a glimpse into the harrowing conditions endured by hostages released as part of a recent ceasefire agreement. Or and his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, were among over 240 people taken hostage during the Hamas attack on southern Israel.
The couple’s abduction became a symbol of the festival massacre, with footage of Argamani being taken captive on a motorcycle widely circulated. While Argamani was released earlier in the ceasefire deal, Or remained in Gaza until recently. His father, Yaron Or, described the ordeal as devastating, detailing the extreme deprivation his son faced during his captivity.
“He’s extremely thin,” Yaron Or told reporters, adding that his son had had “no books, no human contact – nothing”, but was given a Rubik’s Cube at one point. He was held in a series of tunnels and small enclosures, at times chained up, and received very little information about the outside world, including news of his girlfriend or the extent of the fighting. His father revealed that at one point, Avinatan, who is approximately 2 meters (6ft 5in) tall, was confined to a space just 1.8 meters high.
According to reports, Avinatan Or attempted to escape while being moved through a tunnel and was later beaten for the attempt. Despite the brutal conditions, his father emphasized his son’s resilience. “Around him were guards whose relatives had been killed in IDF [Israel Defense forces] strikes, I think it’s simply a miracle they didn’t harm him,” Yaron Or said.
While physically recovering, Yaron Or shared that his son’s spirit remains unbroken. “He’s sharing things gradually, we’re not asking directly,” he said. “But mentally, thank God, he’s the same Avinatan – same humour, same strength.” the Or family’s experience underscores the long-term physical and psychological trauma faced by those released from Hamas captivity, as they begin the tough process of reintegration and healing.
