Here Lived
This was the home of Arbel Yehoud and Ariel Cunio.
Arbel (28) was born and grew up at Nir Oz. She is the daughter of Yael and Yechi and the younger sister of Dolev z”l and Neta, the third generation of her family on Kibbutz Nir Oz. Growing up, she was a joyful and mischievous child whose bright eyes were filled with wonder. She was always laughing and dancing. As a teenager, she became interested in astronomy and space exploration after watching the movie Interstellar. In recent years, Arbel worked as a guide at the GrooveTech innovative learning center in the Eshkol regional council. Her dream is to travel in space. Arbel has a slightly shy and inviting smile that draws you in. She is funny, curious, and big-hearted. Arbel is constantly surrounded by friends and family. She is the best aunt to her six nieces and nephews, two of whom were born while Arbel was in captivity.
Ariel (26), or as his friends and family call him, “Arielito”, is the prince of the Cunio family. He is the youngest son of Silvia and Louis, with three older brothers – Lucas, Eitan, and David (who was also held captive in Gaza). He was a calm, happy baby, and his brothers all loved him. As a child, he was a good student and was friends with everyone. He would visit his grandmother Esther whenever he could, and she would always spoil him. Ariel is hard-working and responsible, a man of values who is liked and respected by all who meet him. He likes to work out, which he and Arbel enjoyed doing together. During the past summer, he worked as a lifeguard at the kibbutz swimming pool, and at the season’s end he began working in the field of computer software, a field that he had studied and enjoyed.
Arbel and Ariel like traveling, nature, and people, and enjoy the sun, the beach, and the pool. They had recently returned from a backpacking trip to South America and were starting to plan their future together on the kibbutz. They complement each other perfectly, do everything together, support and take care of each other, and their home is always filled with laughter, happiness, and love.
October 7th
In the early hours of October 7, Arbel and Ariel were in their safe room, along with a puppy they had adopted named Murph. They managed to text with their family and friends, but that was the last contact with them. The terrorists broke into their house, abducted Arbel and Ariel, shot Murph, and looted the house, wreaking havoc and destroying all they could.
What Happened Since
For over a year, family and friends fought for the return of Arbel and Ariel, who were held hostage in Gaza and forsaken by the government.
Arbel was returned in the second hostage deal, on January 30, 2025. Upon her return, she joined the campaign to bring Ariel home. This is what she wrote to Ariel at the time:
On that black morning, moments before the terrorists reached us, Ariel looked at me and said, ”Beautiful, I love you.” I told him, “I love you more, Pop.” We were abducted together and three hours later, in an instant, our hands that had held on to each other so tightly were separated, and he was taken from me.
Since my release, I haven’t been able to process what happened. I can’t understand how it is possible that I am here and you are still there.
Pop – if only you could hear us now. Everyone is here, all the amazing people who have fought and are still fighting for us.
Please, my love, I beg you. Please don’t lose hope. Keep believing. Even in the darkness. Please keep your inner light shining. Do not break, my Ariel. Stay strong. Only a little longer. A little longer and you’ll be here at home with us.
Only then will we begin to breathe, to mourn, to recover.
__________
On October 13, 2025, after a struggle that lasted 738 days, Ariel returned home and was reunited with Arbel, along with his brother David. Today, Arbel and Ariel are living together with a new dog that Arbel adopted a few weeks before Ariel’s return. They are doing their best to continue their shared lives and heal together.
