Former Gaza hostages Noa Argamani, Avinatan Or, Evyatar David, and Guy Gilboa-Dalal delivered opening remarks at the Jewish Federations General Assembly on Sunday, sharing their stories of gratitude, resilience, and unity.
The event was attended by two thousand people from across the federation system, including civic leaders, Hillel students, interfaith partners, leaders from other major Jewish organizations, political figures, and many others.
Noa Argamani
The first to speak was Argamani, who said, “We’ve all dreamed about this moment for more than two years,” adding that she “can finally breathe again” now that all the living hostages have returned to Israel.
She spoke about her experience on October 7, how she was thrown into a motorcycle and didn’t know what had happened to her partner, Avinatan Or, who had been with her at the time. Argamani described asking about him and getting “no answer.”
On June 8, IDF soldiers found her and said, “Noa, we are here to bring you home now.” After returning to Israel, she dedicated herself to “[getting] the hostages out of hell.”
Argamani thanked Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and US President Donald Trump. She reiterated that there are three hostages still in Gaza and “the road ahead is challenging,” but “hope in the darkest places can survive.”
Avinatan Or
Or spoke next, describing his experience in captivity. He said that he was held alone with no sun, no conversation, and no information.
He mentioned the four rules he set for himself: First, “patience, every day I told myself. Just one more day.” Second, “find common ground. I spoke with my captors about faith, about the Torah, and the Quran.” Third, “anger destroys you; you cannot survive on anger.” And fourth, “keep the mind working.”
Or said, “I will not let others decide my destiny.” He told a story of resilience in the darkest times, reminding the audience that “no one can take your mind.”
He thanked the IDF, calling them heroes, and acknowledging the lives that were lost and damaged in the war, saying, “I did survive,” and ending with a message of unity. “We carry responsibility to know good from evil. Division destroys; through unity we are unbreakable.”
Evyatar David
Next was Evyatar David, one of the final living hostages to be released. David spoke about being “starved, tortured, and subjected to terror.”
He described how “the love and strength [from his family and friends] reached [him],” acknowledging the “number of people who came together for them.”
David also thanked the IDF and everyone who fought for the hostages. He finished his speech with the message, “We will recover, we will rebuild, we will come back. Am Yisrael Chai!”
Guy Gilboa-Dalal
The last ex-hostage to speak was Gilboa-Dalal, who spoke about his experience at the Nova Festival. He said he was having a great time with his friends the night before, and that morning at 6 am, his older brother came to join them.
Gilboa-Dalal described how “the sky filled with rockets,” and he “tried to escape and hide.” Two of his friends were murdered on October 7, and Gilboa-Dalal and David were taken hostage.
He said, “I didn’t give up or lose hope,” talking about how, much like David, his “strength came from [his] family, community, and Diaspora Jews.”
“You prayed for me… it gave me hope and power”
Gilboa-Dalal also thanked the IDF for having “so much power and courage.” He reiterated that three hostages remain in captivity and “the fight is not over until the last hostage.”