Freed Hostages Reunited with families, Express Gratitude – and Omission – After Two Years in Captivity
Sheba Medical Center – In emotional scenes unfolding Tuesday, the Cunio brothers, David and Ariel, were reunited with their wives and girlfriends, all of whom were previously released hostages, following their own release after two years held captive by Hamas. The brothers’ return marks a pivotal moment for families devastated by the October 7th attacks and subsequent hostage crisis,though expressions of gratitude following their release notably excluded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The return of David and Ariel cunio concludes a harrowing chapter for several families impacted by the October 7th massacre and the ensuing negotiations for hostage releases. Their wives and girlfriends, Emma and Yehoud, were freed in November 2023, enduring months of uncertainty while advocating for their loved ones’ return. The Cunio brothers’ ordeal underscores the prolonged trauma experienced by hostages and their families, and their focus now shifts to recovery and rebuilding lives irrevocably altered by captivity.
Silvia Cunio, the brothers’ mother, described the moment as the end of a “nightmare,” stating her sons were “pale but relatively okay.” She revealed their immediate concern wasn’t recounting their experiences, but rather understanding what had transpired at home and how their relatives had survived.
Yehoud,whose brother Dolev was killed on October 7th,shared her elation on Instagram,writing,”My Arieli is home and I’m overwhelmed and so excited.” She expressed hope for a future focused on “healing and rehabilitating together as a couple and family,” extending thanks to former President Donald trump, the US administration, and all those involved in securing the release of Ariel and David.
A photograph released by the Government press Office showed David Cunio embracing his twin daughters, emma and Yuli, also former hostages. The image encapsulates the profound joy and relief felt by families after enduring months of anguish.
Notably, initial reports indicate that families of the released hostages have largely refrained from publicly thanking Prime Minister Netanyahu for the deal that secured their release, a pointed omission that underscores growing dissatisfaction with his handling of the hostage crisis.
