Israeli actor David Cunio, known for his role in the award-winning film Youth (2013), has been released by Hamas after more than two years in captivity. He was among 20 Israeli hostages freed on Monday as part of the newly-brokered Gaza ceasefire agreement, according to Variety.
Cunio, 35, and his brother Ariel Cunio were kidnapped from the Nir Oz kibbutz during the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, which killed over 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage.
Family Members of David Cunio Freed Earlier
While David remained in captivity, his wife, Sharon Aloni Cunio, and their twin daughters, Emma and Yuli, were freed in the first ceasefire deal in November 2023. For over two years, his family had no confirmed news about his fate.
The latest release deal also included 28 bodies of hostages who died in captivity. In exchange, Israel agreed to free 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the first phase of the truce mediated by US President Donald Trump, who is currently in Israel before heading to Egypt for a regional peace summit.
David Cunio: Story Retold Through Cinema
David Cunio’s abduction inspired the 2025 documentary A Letter to David, directed by Tom Shoval and produced by Nancy Spielberg. The film premiered earlier this year at the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale).
The documentary uses behind-the-scenes footage from Youth and family videos recorded before the October 7 attack. It offers an emotional look at the Cunio family’s life before tragedy struck.
In a statement after David’s release, Tom Shoval said to ScreenDaily, “This is a profound moment. Youth was a film about brotherhood, and the unity is complete again.”
Cunio Family’s Ordeal: A Story of Survival and Loss
According to The Jerusalem Post, the Cunio family’s experience reflects both survival and heartbreak. During the October 7 attack, their home in Nir Oz was set on fire.
David initially escaped with one of his daughters but was later caught by Hamas militants. His grandmother, Esther Cunio, became known internationally for saving herself by distracting Hamas soldiers with talks about Argentina, Pope Francis, and Lionel Messi.
In July 2025, David’s twin daughters celebrated their fifth birthday — and soon after, they finally reunited with their father after more than two years apart.
Earlier, Sharon had told The Jerusalem Post, “Each day that he does not come back is a day of suffering for them and for me too.”
Friendship and Hope: Yarden Bibas’s Role
David’s close friend Yarden Bibas also faced a tragic fate. He was kidnapped during the same October 7 attacks. Bibas lost his wife, Shiri, and their two sons, Ariel (4) and Kfir (9 months), who were killed while in captivity.
After his own release in January 2025, Bibas became one of the strongest voices urging for the freedom of remaining hostages, including David. He made emotional appeals to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump.
“I have lost my wife and children,” Bibas said. “Sharon should not be left without her husband.”
He also shared that during captivity, he sometimes met David in Gaza’s underground tunnels. “The last thing he told me was, ‘I love you. It’ll be alright.”
Hope After Tragedy
David Cunio’s release closes one of the most painful chapters of the hostage crisis that began in October 2023. For his family, it marks the end of long uncertainty and the beginning of healing.
As international efforts continue for peace in the region, David’s story stands as a symbol of endurance, unity, and the human cost of conflict.
