‘My children are home!’: Mother of ex-hostages David and Ariel Cunio celebrates as family made whole again

Holding pictures of slain hostages whose bodies are still held in Gaza, family members of four released hostages deliver statements to the press at Sheba Medical Center.

Sylvia Cunio, whose two sons, David and Ariel Cunio, were released Monday, stands flanked by her daughter-in-law, Sharon Alony Cunio, who is married to David, and Arbel Yehoud, Ariel’s longtime partner.

“My children are home!” yells Cunio, pumping her fist.

She recalls how her family was nearly crushed on October 7, when two sons and their families were taken captive.

“My David and Ariel are here! My family is complete again, I am breathing again. They are beautiful, they are smiling and I can’t stop crying from happiness. It will take time until they return to themselves, but I rely on my wonderful children.”

Cunio thanks Israel’s soldiers, Israel’s mothers, the Kibbutz Nir Oz community and the entire nation for continuing to fight for her children and all of the hostages.

She also thanks US President Donald Trump and his staff, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog that she can “finally hug my children.”

She tells the bereaved families, whom she says are heroes, that they will always be in her heart, and reminds those present that the battle isn’t over until all the hostages are home, their bodies buried in Israel.

“You will have a grave to go to,” says Cunio, her voice wavering with tears.