While the world celebrated the rescue of Noa Argamani, the return of the Israeli hostage continues to be wracked with grief.
Although she returns in time to see her terminally ill mother, her boyfriend – from whom she was brutally torn on October 7 – remains captive.
Now Avinatan Or’s brother has made an emotional appeal to let them ‘dance’ again. He demands a ceasefire to bring the 30-year-old home.
Moshe Or, 33, told the Daily Mail that he still sends WhatsApp messages to his brother’s disconnected phone to stay close to him.
The father-of-three also revealed he feels no bitterness about Noa being freed first – and said her freedom has given him “stronger energy” to fight.
Now Avinatan Or’s brother has made an emotional plea to let the couple (pictured together) ‘dance again’ as he demands a truce to bring the 30-year-old home.
This photo of Noa – her arms outstretched to her boyfriend as she screams for help – became one of the most recognizable images of the atrocities after it was published by The Mail on Sunday, October 8.
Her boyfriend Avinatan Or, distraught and helpless, was also seen on video being kidnapped on October 7.
Moshe Or (pictured), 33, told the Daily Mail that he still sends WhatsApp messages to his brother’s disconnected phone to stay close to him
Moshe appealed to world leaders and said: ‘I was so happy to see Noa come back home – now it’s time to bring Avinatan and all the other 120 hostages back home.
“We all know the only way to get them all home is to make a deal, and we need to do that now. They need to dance again, and they need to live their lives, and they need to celebrate their love.”
Noa and Avinatan met at a party while studying at Ben Gurion University in Tel Aviv and had been together for more than two years.
Moshe said she brought “young energy,” “joy for life” and “silliness” to the hard-working electrical engineer. They planned to move in together and meet his family before October 7.
That day, images of Noa, 26, shouting: ‘Don’t kill me’ as she was kidnapped at the Nova music festival made headlines around the world. But little attention has been paid to the man she called out to.
As she was taken away on a motorcycle, the camera focused on her tall, muscular partner, who was forced to watch helplessly as he was harassed by Hamas thugs. Not a word has been heard about Avinatan since.
Noa Argamani, then 25, was kidnapped on the back of a motorbike during the horrific terrorist attacks
Sickening footage shows the moment Israeli hostage Noa was seized by Hamas on October 7 and driven to Gaza on the back of a motorcycle (photo)
A 2023 photo of Avinatan Or, who was also kidnapped from the Nova festival
Avinatan Or’s face is seen on a tower with the faces of hostages in Israel on May 26
Noa smiles as she drinks a Coke with her father Yakov after being reunited on June 8
When Noa was rescued, his family hoped she would get answers, but they were just as desperate for clues as they were.
Although there was still no destruction here, Noa’s freedom was overwhelming for Moshe, his parents Ditza and Yaron, and his five other siblings. “We couldn’t believe it, it was amazing, it was such a miracle,” Moshe said.
He texted Noa’s father, Yaakov, telling him he would like to meet her “when she feels comfortable and ready” – before getting a response: “Noa would really like to see you.”
Moshe, who lives with his wife Yael and their children Harel, Segev and Shai, said: ‘It was really exciting. I didn’t know how she would react. Would she be happy? Or maybe a little distant?
‘But when I saw her, I was just very happy for Avinatan. I was so happy to see what an incredible woman she is.”
Three days before Moshe met Noa, his 57-year-old mother also met her. “My mother said that was very powerful and she feels a strong bond with Noa,” Moshe said.
Noa, who is 26, was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7 and taken to Gaza
Noa was one of only 19 women still held by the terror group
While in captivity, Noa appeared in a chilling Hamas hostage video in January
The Mail On Sunday front page after the October 7 attacks – with Noa’s plea ‘Don’t kill me’
“Imagine fighting for someone for eight months and suddenly you see her. It’s like seeing a superstar.’
Delighted, Moshe sent a WhatsApp to Avinatan’s disconnected number – one of dozens he has sent over the past eight months and which he has promised to keep private.
“When I have all these thoughts in my head, I send them to him via WhatsApp,” said Moshe, who lives in the Alei Zahav settlement in central Israel.
‘In addition, I always send him positive energy. I would like him to know that we are fighting for him.”
But the most important thing is that he just wants to see his brother and Noa together again. “It would be the most amazing love story.”