An engineer named Avinatan Or, who worked for Nvidia’s networking business, has been freed from Hamas captivity after two years of terrible conditions. This happened after a US-brokered ceasefire accord was put into effect. Or, who was taken from the Nova music festival, was one of the last 20 living captives to be freed. After he was freed, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang sent a very emotional message to all of the company’s employees across the world. In it, he said how happy and thankful he was that Or was back and praised the strength of his mother and the unity of Nvidia employees.
An emotional letter from the CEO of Nvidia to his staff
In a letter to all of Nvidia’s employees around the world, CEO Jensen Huang announced that his employee Avinatan Or had returned safely. Hamas gave all of its living hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as part of the first step in a peace process that led to Or’s release.
Huang’s message made it clear how relieved the whole business was:
“I am very moved and very thankful to say that our coworker, Avinatan Or, was just released to the Red Cross in Gaza.” Avinatan has came home after two years of being held by Hamas that were hard to believe.
Huang also took the chance to honor the strength demonstrated during Or’s incarceration. He talked a lot about how strong, brave, and hopeful Or’s mother, Ditza Or, was. He also praised the togetherness shown by Nvidia employees in Israel, saying that they “stood with her in vigil, united in determination that Avinatan would return home safely.” That togetherness showed the best parts of who we are.
Details of the abduction and the emotional reunion
Avinatan Or, 32, an electrical engineer for Nvidia, and his partner, Noa Argamani, were taken from the Nova music event near Kibbutz Reim. Two years before he was freed, he was kidnapped.
Noa Argamani, his partner, was freed earlier in 2024 after a military rescue operation. Or was finally freed a year later as part of the full ceasefire arrangement.
A touching video showed the couple getting back together. After hugging his parents, Or stepped into a room where Argamani was waiting. The two hugged right away and kissed for a long time, which was an emotional finish to their two years of separation and worry.
The Deal to Stop Fighting That Got Them Out
Avinatan Or was one of the 20 living Israeli prisoners who were freed in phases (seven at a time and thirteen at a time) as part of the US-brokered ceasefire accord.
The first part of the arrangement said that Hamas will turn over all living hostages to the ICRC. Israel agreed to let go of almost 2,000 Palestinian inmates and detainees in exchange for the hostages.