After more than two years of unimaginable captivity, David Cunio, the Israeli actor and beloved subject of the Berlinale-premiering documentary "A Letter to David," has been released from Gaza. His director, Tom Shoval, is now gearing up to give the film the powerful, hopeful ending it deserves.

TL;DR
  • A Long-Awaited Release: David Cunio, along with his brother Ariel and 18 other Israeli hostages, was freed on October 13, 2025, after 738 days in Gaza.
  • A Documentary Comes Full Circle: Tom Shoval, director of "A Letter to David," plans to add a new ending to his film, which chronicled David's ordeal and premiered at the Berlinale while he was still captive.
  • Emotional Reunions & Healing: The released hostages are now in hospital, beginning a crucial two-week recovery process and reuniting with their families after a harrowing separation.

Talk about a story coming full circle! If you've been following the news from the Israel-Hamas conflict, you know the name David Cunio. He's the Israeli actor whose harrowing two-year captivity in Gaza became the focus of the powerful documentary, "A Letter To David." Well, get ready for some truly heartwarming news: David, along with his brother Ariel and 18 other Israeli hostages, is finally home!

This massive wave of releases on October 13, 2025, marks a monumental moment, bringing to an end 738 agonizing days for these individuals and their families. And for director Tom Shoval, it means he can now fulfill a promise he made years ago: to give his film the ending everyone had been praying for.

A Joyful Homecoming After Two Long Years of Uncertainty

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The air on October 13, 2025, was thick with emotion as 20 living Israeli hostages, including David Cunio, were released from Gaza. This was part of the first phase of a U.S.-brokered peace deal, which also included Hamas agreeing to return the remains of over two dozen hostages who tragically didn't survive. Imagine the relief, the tears, the sheer disbelief for the families who have been campaigning tirelessly for this day.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum summed up the collective feeling, saying, "Our struggle is not over. It will not end until the last hostage is located and returned for proper burial. This is our moral obligation. Only then will the people of Israel be whole." It’s a powerful reminder that while this is a huge step, the journey towards complete healing continues.

For David Cunio, 35, an electrical technician, and his younger brother Ariel Cunio, 28, a software tester, this release brings an end to an ordeal that began on October 7, 2023, during the devastating Hamas-led terror attacks on Southern Israel. They were among 76 people kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small agricultural community just four miles from the Gaza border. That day, 1,200 people were killed and another 251 abducted, leaving an indelible scar on the region.

David and Ariel’s reunion with their family has been particularly moving. Their mother, Silvia Cunio, described her sons as strong after a surprise video call ahead of their release. Their 90-year-old grandmother, Esther Cunio, also received the news with tears of relief. These moments are what everyone has been waiting for.

The Cunio Family's Long and Painful Journey to Reunification

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The Cunio family's story is one of fragmented returns and enduring hope. David and Ariel were kidnapped together, but their loved ones experienced staggered releases. David’s wife, Sharon Cunio, and their three-year-old twin daughters, Yuli and Emma, were among the first group of hostages released in November 2023, after just 52 days of captivity. Ariel’s partner, Arbel Yehoud, 29, was freed months later in January 2025 as part of a second ceasefire deal, after 482 excruciating days.

When Arbel finally saw Ariel again, more than two years after they were abducted together, she could "hardly contain her emotions." She shared a statement through the Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters:

“My Ariel is home again, and I am overwhelmed with emotion and joy. For over two years, the hope of holding Ariel again is what sustained and drove me every single day. We must not relent until the last hostage comes home. Only then can we heal as a society and as a people.”

— Arbel Yehoud

David and Ariel's long captivity meant they were separated from their loved ones for far longer. David's experience was mostly one of isolation, though he did spend about two months with Sagui Dekel-Chen and a week with Yarden Bibas, his best friend. Both Sagui and Yarden were released in earlier deals. Tragically, Yarden Bibas returned to news that his wife Shiri and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, had likely died in captivity, with their bodies later recovered. This heartbreaking reality underscored the constant fear for families still awaiting their loved ones.

A Director's Mission: How "A Letter to David" Kept Hope Alive

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Enter Tom Shoval, the Israeli director whose personal connection to David Cunio sparked a cinematic mission. Shoval first befriended David and Ariel when they starred in his 2013 debut feature, Youth. In a twist of fate, the film's plot involved the brothers kidnapping a young woman to pay off family debts. This fictional scenario haunted Shoval after October 7, 2023.

"I felt guilty after October 7. I said to myself, ‘What the hell did you do, inventing this story in Youth in which David kidnapped somebody?’ It was like reality slaps you with this cruel twist. I was very agitated about that.”

— Tom Shoval

Driven by a desire to draw attention to David's plight and prevent the hostage crisis from being normalized, Shoval began work on A Letter to David. Produced by Nancy Spielberg, the documentary is a deeply personal message to his friend, building a picture of David through behind-the-scenes footage from Youth, home videos of life in Nir Oz, and poignant interviews with his family, including Sharon and David's brother Eitan, who had miraculously escaped on October 7 by hiding in his home's safe room.

The film world premiered at the Berlinale in February 2025, a time when hopes for a ceasefire and David's release were fragile. Shoval revealed that the documentary was a constantly evolving piece, reflecting the shifting realities of the hostage situation. He had to update titles as people were released, and heartbreakingly, had to change information when Shiri Bibas's body was returned.

"I changed the titles for those who were released from still in captivity; to ‘released’... Then Shiri’s body was returned so I had to change that, which is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done… it came with an understanding that that was it. It also came with this fear that one day, I might have to do the same thing for David and Ariel. It was terrifying.”

— Tom Shoval

Now, with David finally free, Shoval is ready to fulfill a promise he made to Eitan: to bring a new, rightful ending to the film. "I think the next step is for him to see it, so that me and him will have this closure and then I will shoot a special ending with him to the film," Shoval shared, emphasizing the need for David to heal and process everything before facing the camera again.

The Emotional Road to Recovery and Reunions

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The release of these 20 hostages isn't just a political development; it's a deeply human one. Each person carries the weight of 738 days of uncertainty, fear, and unimaginable conditions. Upon their return, the freed individuals, including Alon Ohel, Omri Miran, and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, were seen smiling as they met with IDF representatives before being transferred for medical checks and family reunions. But the road to full recovery is long.

Shoval eloquently described the process: "Somebody said, it’s like they’re being born again, and I think that’s kind of accurate. They are coming back to the world." The hostages will be in hospital for approximately two weeks, a crucial period for physical and psychological healing. David's parents, Yaron and Ditsa, were also reunited with their son Avinatan Or, who was kidnapped from the Nova music festival. Avinatan also reunited with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, who had been rescued earlier in June 2024. Despite their separate journeys home, their bond remained unbroken.

During this delicate time, Shoval respects the need for space. He hasn't seen David face-to-face yet, understanding that these first moments are for the hostages to reconnect with their immediate families, especially David's daughters, who haven't seen their father in two years. "I don’t want to be there in this very gentle and intimate moment. I want to give him the space that he needs and also to the family," he explained.

Looking Forward: Peace, Art, and the Hope for a New Era

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While the focus is rightly on the released hostages and their families, the broader context of the conflict remains. The peace deal also involves Israel releasing 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli military campaign in Gaza over the past two years has reportedly killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, leaving the territory razed. U.S. President Donald Trump, who brokered the deal, is meeting with released hostages in Israel and will then attend an international summit with Middle Eastern and European leaders to discuss further peace efforts.

For Tom Shoval, beyond completing his film, there's a larger hope for the future. He acknowledges the "dark" environment for Israeli films and projects but holds onto optimism. "A consequence of the catastrophe that we call war is how it sucks out every drop of humanity, and we need to fight that. We need to do everything we can to make us closer to peace and to understanding, to help the people in Gaza and the people in Israel to get out of this, to a new era," he stated.

The release of David Cunio and 19 others is a beacon of hope, a testament to resilience, and a poignant reminder of the human stories at the heart of global conflicts. And for A Letter to David, it's the beginning of a new, long-awaited chapter.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Hostage Release Who are David and Ariel Cunio? David Cunio (35) and Ariel Cunio (28) are Israeli brothers who were abducted by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023. David is an electrical technician, and Ariel is a software tester. Both were released on October 13, 2025. What is 'A Letter to David'? 'A Letter to David' is a 2025 documentary directed by Tom Shoval and produced by Nancy Spielberg. It chronicles David Cunio's captivity, blending footage from Shoval's earlier film 'Youth' (which starred David) with family interviews and home videos. It premiered at the Berlinale in February 2025. How many hostages were released on October 13, 2025? A total of 20 living Israeli hostages were released on October 13, 2025. This group included David Cunio, Ariel Cunio, Avinatan Or, Alon Ohel, and Omri Miran, among others. What happens next for the released hostages? The released hostages are currently recuperating in hospital for approximately two weeks. They are undergoing medical checks and psychological support while reconnecting with their families after their long captivity. Director Tom Shoval also plans to film a new ending for 'A Letter to David' after David Cunio has had time to heal. Sources
  • Deadline: Tom Shoval Talks Plans To Give Hostage Doc ‘A Letter To David’ New Ending Following Release Of Friend David Cunio From Gaza
  • NBC News: More than two years after they were abducted, all living hostages have been returned to Israel from the Gaza Strip
  • Jerusalem Post: 'They seem fine, I thought they would be worse,' Silvia Cunio on hostage sons Ariel and David
  • Zee News: Two Years After They Were Taken Hostage, Arbel Finally Holds Ariel Again
  • i24NEWS: David Cunio, freed from Gaza, reunites with family in emotional moment
  • Screen Daily: Israeli hostage David Cunio, subject of Berlinale doc ‘A Letter To David’, among 20 released from Gaza
  • Euronews: The Cunio hostages return home 2 years after the kidnapping that shocked Israel
  • Variety: Actor David Cunio, ‘A Letter to David’ Documentary Subject, Among Hostages Released in Gaza Ceasefire