Former hostage David Cunio has shared harrowing details of his experience during captivity in Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023. Cunio, alongside his wife, Sharon Aloni Cunio, and their then-3-year-old twin daughters, Yuli and Emma, was abducted from their home amid violent attacks. The family, including Cunio’s sister-in-law and niece, initially sought refuge in a safe room but were discovered by Hamas militants, who set fire to their home.
In an interview with N12, Cunio recounted the traumatic moments of their abduction. “Suddenly I see Sharon out of the corner of my eye, being dragged by one of the terrorists,” he said, recalling his desperate attempts to reach her as they were taken away. “I shouted, ‘My wife, my wife!’”
As they were transported to Gaza, an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) helicopter targeted the Hamas vehicles, resulting in casualties among their captors and injuring Cunio, Sharon, and Yuli. Despite the chaos, the family was left in uncertainty about Emma’s fate, which added to their anguish. “The whole time we were asking them… if they could find her,” Cunio explained.
Struggles in Captivity
Once they arrived at a house in Gaza, Cunio felt a profound responsibility to protect his family. He observed the guards and contemplated taking action, but ultimately recognized the futility of such a plan. On the tenth day of their ordeal, an airstrike hit the building where they were held, forcing them to be moved to the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis.
At the hospital, the family was finally reunited with Emma, who appeared malnourished and distressed. Cunio described the moment: “We were holding her and she didn’t recognize us.” Sharon managed to soothe Emma by singing a children’s song, a small yet significant moment of connection amid their trauma.
On day 49 of their captivity, Cunio’s family was released as part of a negotiation between Israel and Hamas. Cunio reflected on the intense fear he felt during their separation: “The worst moment of my life is when I was separated from Yuli, Emma, and Sharon.” Afterward, he was taken underground to the Hamas tunnels, where he spent the remainder of his time in captivity.
Enduring Hardship and Hope
Throughout his two years in captivity, Cunio endured severe physical and psychological torture. He recounted a period of extreme deprivation, stating, “There was a time when we were on 250 milliliters of water and half a pita per day.” The darkness of the tunnels and the constant threat of violence weighed heavily on him and the other hostages. Despite these conditions, Cunio clung to memories of his daughters, which provided him with a sliver of hope.
He faced a cruel psychological manipulation from his captors, who falsely claimed that his wife had moved on. “It slowly penetrates, that garbage,” he shared. “No matter how fake it sounds, in there it felt completely real.”
On October 8, 2025, Cunio received news of his impending release, a moment filled with elation as he reconnected with his younger brother, Ariel, who had also been a hostage. The two conducted a video call with their family, and Cunio was overwhelmed to discover that everyone was alive.
Upon reuniting with his daughters, Cunio experienced a mix of joy and disbelief. “All I wanted was for them to run up to me and hug me,” he said. He was struck by how much they had grown and how their relationships had changed during his absence.
Cunio acknowledged the challenges of rebuilding family dynamics after such a traumatic experience. “It’s not easy to return from captivity and try to build a family as if nothing ever happened,” he reflected. As they work to reconnect, he remains hopeful that trust will be restored. “Things are starting to get back in place,” he concluded, highlighting the resilience of his family amidst their struggles.
