STORY: Survivor of Hamas captivity, Israeli David Cunio, was released from hospital on Sunday (October 19) and arrived at his in-laws' house in central Israel after more than two years as a hostage in Gaza.

David and his wife Sharon Alony-Cunio, who herself was held hostage by the militant Palestinian group Hamas with her two daughters for 53 days, were excited to see the crowd of well-wishers waiting for them outside the house in the central Israeli town of Yavne.

People filled the small street, waving Israeli flags and wiping tears of happiness.

Earlier on Sunday, David and his brother Ariel who was also released last week from Hamas captivity under a U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire deal, released a video statement.

Sitting on a hospital bed, the two brothers thanked all those who took part in the public campaign for the release of all hostages as well as to the security forces.

David said that he was finally able to read his daughters bedtime stories and hold his wife Sharon.

"I can't believe I'm saying it but my dream has come true."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: YAVNE, ISRAEL (OCTOBER 19, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VAN WITH LOUDSPEAKERS DRIVING BY/ BLACK VEHICLE DRIVING TOWARDS CAMERA/ DAVID CUNIO, WHO WAS RELEASED FROM HAMAS CAPTIVITY, AND TODAY DISCHARGED FROM ISRAELI HOSPITAL, WAVING HELLO AS HE'S SITTING NEXT TO HIS WIFE SHARON, HERSELF A FORMER HOSTAGE/

(SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew and English) RELEASED HOSTAGE DAVID CUNIO, WHO WAS DISCHARGED FROM ISRAELI HOSPITAL, SAYING:

"(Hebrew) Thank you the people of Israel, thanks a lot! Thanks for everything."

"(English) I feel good. I feel good."/

CAR DRIVES AWAY

2. CAR DRIVING IN STREET

3. CUNIO AND WIFE SHARON GETTING OUT OF CAR, WALKING THROUGH CROWD INTO CUNIO'S IN-LAWS' HOUSE

4. CUNIO AND WIFE ENTERING YARD, FAMILY MEMBERS GREETING CUNIO, HUGGING HIM

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAVID'S WIFE, SHARON ALONY-CUNIO, WHO WERE HELD HOSTAGE IN GAZA WITH THEIR TWO DAUGHTERS AND RELEASED AFTER 52 DAYS, SAYING:

"Thank you so much for everyone who came and supported us during these whole two years. I can't thank you enough, David is finally home. Thank you."

6. SHARON'S PARENTS, DAVID CUNIO'S IN-LAWS, MOTHER IN LAW SAYING (Hebrew) A JEWISH PRAYER, THANKING EVERYONE

7. DAVID CUNIO HUGGING WOMAN

8. PEOPLE WHO CAME TO GREET CUNIO STANDING OUTSIDE HOUSE WITH ISRAELI FLAGS

9. WOMAN CRYING

10. WOMAN WAVING ISRAELI FLAGS

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) MIRI TAPIRO, A NEIGHBOUR OF ALONI FAMILY (DAVID CUNIO'S IN-LAWS) WHO CAME TO WELCOME DAVID CUNIO, SAYING:

"We're just as excited as the whole of the Israeli people, especially when the Cunio family has another joyous event in their home today and they're just... I (feel) like their my family, my immediate family... I'm so happy... I'm overwhelmed with feelings."

12. VARIOUS OF WOMAN WAVING ISRAELI FLAG OUTSIDE DAVID CUNIO'S IN-LAWS' HOME

RAMAT GAN, ISRAEL (RELEASED OCTOBER 19, 2025) (HOSTAGES FAMILIES FORUM - Access all)

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) BROTHERS DAVID (RIGHT) AND ARIEL (LEFT) CUNIO WHO SURVIVED OVER TWO YEARS IN HAMAS CAPTIVITY IN GAZA, SITTING IN HOSPITAL ROOM SAYING:

"Booh!

DAVID: Hello to all of the amazing people of Israel. I'm David Cunio.

ARIEL: And I'm Ariel. We both went from darkness to light a few days ago.

DAVID: We know how much you fought for us to come back home and we would like to thank each and every one of you, for leaving your homes in any weather.

ARIEL: In the toughest moments there, we felt that you are fighting for us, that you're not giving up."

14. WHITE FLASH

15. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) BROTHERS DAVID (RIGHT) AND ARIEL (LEFT) CUNIO WHO SURVIVED OVER TWO YEARS IN HAMAS CAPTIVITY IN GAZA, SITTING IN HOSPITAL ROOM SAYING:

"DAVID: I can't believe I'm saying it but my dream has come true: I tell my Emma and Yuli (his daughters) bedtime stories every evening. I get to hold Sharon my love (his wife).

ARIEL: Thank you father, mother

DAVID: For me too, right?

ARIEL: To our amazing brothers and of course Arbel, my love

DAVID: And to Sharon, my life

ARIEL: For not stopping the fight for even a moment. Our new lives start now."

16. WHITE FLASH

17. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) BROTHERS DAVID (RIGHT) AND ARIEL (LEFT) CUNIO WHO SURVIVED OVER TWO YEARS IN HAMAS CAPTIVITY IN GAZA, SITTING IN HOSPITAL ROOM SAYING:

"DAVID: Today we're coming back home and we're very excited. We can't wait to get back to life already and bridge all the gaps."

18. WHITE FLASH

19. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) BROTHERS DAVID (RIGHT) AND ARIEL (LEFT) CUNIO WHO SURVIVED OVER TWO YEARS IN HAMAS CAPTIVITY IN GAZA, SITTING IN HOSPITAL ROOM SAYING:

"ARIEL: The most important thing is, we want to thank the IDF, the security forces, the families who paid unbearable price in this war. We love you all.

DAVID: We will not forget you. You are our heroes.

ARIEL: And a final word to you: The fight is not over yet. We still have brothers -- some are hostages from Nir Oz, our community -- that we must bring back for burial in Israel. We must not stop.

DAVID: Until the last hostage comes back to us."