The world watched couple Noa and Avinatan being taken hostage. Their reunion is heart-wrenching.

Noa Argamani spent two years counting down the minutes until this very moment: her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, back safely in her arms.

Argamani's desperate cries on the back of a motorcycle became one of the most haunting images of the 7 October, 2023, Hamas attack on the Nova musical festival.

As she begged the attackers to spare her life, Argamani reached her arms out toward her boyfriend, who was being led in the other direction. She didn't know if she'd ever see him again.

Now, more than two years on, the 28-year-old has been reunited with Or, 32.

An Israeli government video shows Or first hugging and kissing his parents. His mother, Ditza, chants the Jewish "shehecheyanu" blessing, which voices gratitude for new experiences, on his return from two years in Hamas captivity in Gaza on Monday.

Or is then led to a room and into the arms of Argamani before the pair embrace and kiss.

Watch: Or and Argamani reunited. Post continues below.

In another image shared by the Israel Defense Forces, Or kisses his girlfriend's cheek as she sits smiling beside him.

Argamani and Or were both taken from the Nova Music Festival by Hamas militants — one of the main focuses of the attack in southern Israel.

More than 360 people were killed at the site and another 40 were taken hostage.

In the now viral video of their kidnapping, Argamani is heard screaming, "Don't kill me" as she reaches for her boyfriend, who watches on while being marched away.

Argamani was later rescued from captivity by Israeli special forces in Gaza, along with three other hostages in June 2024. Since her return, she's campaigned for the return of the other hostages.

Avinatan, I’m sorry you are not home and I am.

I’m sorry we haven’t been reunited yet.

Don’t lose hope, my love. pic.twitter.com/xcOFZGMQIk

— Noa Argamani (@ArgamaniNoa) October 1, 2025

On the second anniversary of October 7, Argamani called for the release of the remaining hostages.

"October 7 was the last time I saw my partner. In captivity, I asked about Avinatan everywhere I went," she wrote.

"I didn't know if he was kidnapped or murdered, but I was afraid to know the answer. I lived in fear every single day."

The post continued, saying: "I miss Avinatan more with every passing day. I hold onto hope, every single day, that this nightmare will end soon, and we'll finally get to live the life we've dreamed of."

Or was among the final 20 living Israeli hostages handed over by Hamas as part of the first phase of a ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump.

Israel released about 2,000 Palestinian detainees and prisoners in the exchange deal.

-with AAP

Feature image: Israel Defense Forces.