The harrowing experiences endured by Noa Argamani’s boyfriend during his imprisonment by Hamas have come to light, revealing the extent of his suffering. The 6-foot-5-inch captive was reportedly subjected to beatings and confined to a cramped 6-foot cell for an entire year.

Avinatan Or, aged 32, was seized by Hamas militants at the Supernova music festival on October 7, 2023, and endured 738 days as a hostage in the Gaza Strip.

Global audiences were shocked by footage capturing the moment he was forcibly separated from his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, 28. She was taken away on a motorbike, sandwiched between two armed captors, as they headed toward the border.

Despite her desperate cries and outstretched arm pleading for Avinatan’s help, he was unable to assist, having been captured by another group of militants.

Although Noa was eventually freed through an Israeli rescue operation in June, Avinatan remained trapped in the Gaza Strip. During his captivity, he faced a brutal regime of starvation, abuse, and complete isolation.

He was one of 20 living Israeli hostages released on Monday as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s historic deal that aims to end the two-year devastating war in Gaza.

As the former hostages give testimony to their family and medical professionals, details are emerging of them being psychologically tortured and suffocated with bags over their heads, while some were force-fed as militants rushed to conceal the sight of ribs protruding through dulled skin before they were released.

It has recently been revealed that Avinatan served in the IDF’s elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit, a fact kept hidden throughout his captivity to prevent potential punishments from guards.

Released Israeli hostage Avinatan Or greets well-wishers upon arriving at Beilinson Hospital in the Rabin Medical Centre in Petah Tikva in central Israel on October 13, 2025

Avinatan Or, held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, kisses his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, who was also taken hostage and rescued in 2024, after his release as part of a prisoner-hostage swap and a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Reim, Israel October 13, 2025

Noa Argamani reacts as she and her partner Avinatan Or, not pictured, are seized by members of the Hamas militant group during an incursion into Israel on Saturday, October 7, 2023

In new details revealed by his father, it is now known that Avinatan, who is 6ft 5in, was chained inside a cage for more than a year of his captivity, in an enclosure just 6ft high – only slightly longer than the thin mattress he slept on.

Before that, he was held in a cell behind bars, so small he was unable to move around freely.

Initial medical examinations suggest he lost between 30 and 40 per cent of his bodyweight as he was held in near-total isolation for two years, not meeting another kidnapped person until he was released on Monday.

‘He’s extremely thin,’ Or’s father, Yaron Or, told Israel’s Kan Reshet Bet radio on Wednesday morning.

‘Around him were guards whose relatives had been killed in IDF strikes, and I think it’s simply a miracle that they didn’t harm him, except for one time when he tried to escape.’

Avinatan attempted to flee from his captors while he was being moved through a tunnel. 

After the escape attempt, Hamas guards worsened his conditions and beat him as punishment.

‘He’s sharing things gradually – we’re not asking directly,’ his father said.

Avinatan Or, 32, was torn away from his girlfriend Noa Argamani, on October 7, 2023

Released hostage Avinatan Or is seen meeting with an IDF officer in the Gaza Strip shortly after being freed from Hamas captivity on October 13, 2025

Avinatan Or, 32, was abducted by Hamas gunmen from the Supernova music festival on October 7, 2023 and spent 738 days in captivity in the Gaza Strip

The 32-year-old wasn’t given an opportunity to have any contact with the other hostages throughout his captivity.

‘No books, no human contact – nothing,’ Yaron said. ‘At some point, he got a Rubik’s Cube, and that was the only thing he had. I don’t know how he came out sane from this. It’s a miracle.’

His captors fed him lies as a form of psychological torment. 

They told him Noa had been released, even though at the time she was still in captivity.

‘He knew there was a war, and he thought it should be ended even at the expense of the hostages,’ Avinatan’s father said.

‘He didn’t know the full scale of October 7 – only that they invaded Israel. He told the prime minister that he thought he’d be held for years, until the war ended, and that this was what needed to happen. He’s a unique person.’

Yaron added that physically, his son still needed time to recover, but mentally, ‘thank God, he’s still the same Avinatan – same humour, same strength.’

Upon his release, his first request was to spend time alone with Noa, as the two shared what they described as their ‘first cigarette together after two years’. 

Upon his release, Or’s first request was to spend time alone with Noa, who was rescued in a military operation in June last year

Released Israeli hostage Avinatan Or greets well-wishers upon arriving at Beilinson Hospital in the Rabin Medical Centre in Petah Tikva in central Israel on October 13, 2025

In a touching social media post on Tuesday, accompanied by a photo of the couple inside an army helicopter, Noa wrote: ‘Both of us, against all odds, came home and were reunited! 

‘I cannot put into words the range of emotions I felt when I saw him for the first time after so long. Each of us faced death countless times, and yet, after two years apart, we are finally taking our first steps together again.’

In a video message addressed to his friends amid recovery, a depleted but joyful Avinatan made light out of how he had been barred from communication with the outside world for two years.

‘Wait, is this recording now? I don’t even know what this technology is – I’ve been disconnected for two years,’ he said with a smile in a short video clip. 

‘My dear friends, I’m so happy to see you. I saw all of you today down there through the van – it’s crazy. We’ll meet very soon, I believe. I’m fine, just tired and exhausted, but soon we’ll catch up on everything. I can’t wait to see you. I love you all, and I heard you did so much for me.’

Avinatan was released on Monday alongside 19 other living hostages as part of the Trump-brokered Israel-Hamas peace deal.

Another freed hostage, Elkana Bohbot, 36, is understood to have spent most of the two years he was held by Hamas chained up in a dark and dingy tunnel where he lost all sense of time.

Channel 12 reported that he was somehow able to remember his wedding anniversary and insisted to his captors that he be allowed to shower on that day.

Though the guards who were holding him initially refused, they relented and allowed him to clean himself.

Elkana Bohbot was seen hugging authorities after his release

In this photo provided by the Israeli Defense Forces, Matan Angrest speaks with an IDF representative in Israel on Monday, October 13, 2025

He was reportedly made to feel sick after Hamas militants force-fed him with food before freeing him, because they didn’t want him to look malnourished in front of the world.

Matan Angrest, a now-22-year-old soldier who was captured from his tank in southern Israel, experienced ‘very severe torture’ during his first few months as a hostage, according to his mother Anat.

She told local media that he ‘remembers being beaten so badly that he lost consciousness’.

He reportedly underwent surgery on his hand without anesthesia in the Strip.

His mother said he was the victim of sinister psychological games, with Hamas militants telling him that Israelis has given up on him and terrorists were planning on conquering Israel with another October 7 attack.

Hamas returned four deceased hostages on Monday, who were later identified as Guy Illouz, 26, Bipin Joshi, 23, Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Daniel Peretz, 22.

Four more bodies were handed over on Tuesday, with three of them having been identified as Uriel Baruch, 35, Tamir Nimrodi, 18, and Eitan Levi, 53.

But Israel has said the fourth ‘does not match any of the hostages’. 

Hamas’ failure to immediately provide the remains of all of the 28 deceased hostages has led to fears that the peace deal is already at risk. 

A spokesperson from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum told the Daily Mail: 

‘Following the return of the last 20 live hostages on Monday, devastating testimonies are emerging – of people being caged, chained, starved, and having bags placed over their heads for extended periods. 

‘Every new account reveals yet another layer of deliberate psychological; and physical cruelty. 

‘Hamas used systematic torture and psychological terror as weapons of war to dehumanise, humiliate, and destroy.

‘Today, we know that the remaining hostages still held in Gaza are no longer alive. For their families, the nightmare is far from over – many fear their loved ones’ bodies may be lost forever in Gaza. 

‘The world must confront the full horror of Hamas’ actions and stand with the families to demand the return the body of every last hostage, so they can finally be laid to rest in Israel, with dignity, and provide closure for the families.’

The Israel-Hamas war began when Palestinian militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 taken hostage.

In Israel’s ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the dead were women and children.