Or was attending the Nova music festival with his partner, Noa Argamani, near Kibbutz Reim when Hamas conducted a terror attack against communities near the Gaza border on October 7, 2023. Or and Argamani were both taken captive and held separately. Argamani was rescued in June 2024 during an Israeli military operation and was a prominent advocate for the release of Or and other hostages after she was freed.

After the US brokered a ceasefire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas, Or was released on Monday along with other surviving hostages after more than two years in captivity.

“I am profoundly moved and deeply grateful to share that, just moments ago, our colleague, Avinatan Or, was released to the Red Cross in Gaza,” Huang wrote. “After two unimaginable years in Hamas captivity, Avinatan has come home.”

Calcalist reported that Or started working for Nvidia in 2022 after he received an electrical engineering degree from Ben-Gurion University. He worked as an engineer in Nvidia’s VLSI group, which is part of the company’s networking division and plays a key role in Nvidia’s semiconductor design operations in Israel.

Released Israeli hostage Avinatan Or gesturing towards a crowd of well-wishers after arriving at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel on Oct. 13, 2025. Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images

Footage of Or getting abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. AP

Huang wrote that Or’s mother, Ditza, “inspired us all” through her “strength, courage, and unwavering hope.”

He also said that Nvidia’s employees in Israel “stood with her in vigil, united in determination that Avinatan would return home safely. That unity reflected the very best of who we are.”

“Thousands of Nvidia employees have served with extraordinary bravery in defense of their communities during the war,” Huang continued. “Many have faced immense pain, loss, and uncertainty. Some have lost family members or loved ones.”

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang released a letter expressing gratitude at the release of his employee Or. AFP via Getty Images

The Nvidia co-founder’s letter referenced several personal losses that hit Nvidia’s team in Israel, including the death of employee Amit Chayut as well as the killing of Danielle Waldman and her partner. 

Stay up to date on the Israel-Hamas cease-fire exchange

Waldman is the daughter of Mellanox founder Eyal Waldman, whose company was acquired by Nvidia.

“The losses to our Jewish, Druze, and Arab families alike have been immense. Grief knows no borders, no faiths, no divisions. We mourn together, and we hope together — for peace, understanding, and a future without fear,” Huang wrote.

Or reunited with his girlfriend Noa Argamani after his release. Courtesy of Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS

Moshe Or celebrating his brother’s release at Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital. REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov

“Avinatan — welcome home. Your safe return brings profound relief and joy to the entire Nvidia family. May this moment market the first step toward recovery, renewal, and lasting peace — for all who have been touched by this war.”

A Nvidia spokesperson declined to comment about the letter.

The post Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang expresses gratitude after Israeli employee released by Hamas appeared first on Our Story Insight.

“I’m incredibly relieved to share the news that our AWS teammate, Sasha Troufanov, who had been held hostage since the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel, has been released from captivity,” Jassy wrote in a message to employees.

Jassy says that the company had a team of experts working with Troufanov’s family “behind the scenes” to secure his release.

The exec explained that Amazon “painfully” could not comment on Troufanov’s abduction publicly “for fear that we would negatively impact their ability to be released or how they were treated in captivity.”

Amazon faced criticism in May 2024 when it was revealed that Troufanov worked for the company, as many noted that the company hadn’t said anything publicly.

Russian-Israeli Sasha Troufanov is held by a Hamas terrorist during the hostage exchange in the Gaza Strip on Feb. 15, 2025. HAITHAM IMAD/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Troufanov is escorted by terrorists as he is handed off to the Red Cross in the Gaza city of Khan Younis. AP

Some at the time speculated that Amazon was keeping quiet to protect itself and its brand.

However, billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, a vocal supporter of Israel, gave the online shopping giant the benefit of the doubt.

Troufanov was working at Amazon Web Services as an electrical engineer when he was kidnapped during Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attacks.

He was taken hostage with his mother, grandmother and girlfriend, all of whom were released in November 2023 while he remained in captivity.

Troufanov was working at Amazon Web Services as an electrical engineer when he was kidnapped during Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attacks. REUTERS

Troufanov speaks to the crowd as he is swarmed by terrorists on stage before he was released to the Red Cross REUTERS

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy speaks during a keynote address at AWS in Las Vegas on Dec. 3, 2024. Getty Images for Amazon Web Services

Troufanov’s father was killed during the attacks.

“It’s been an extremely trying time for everybody who knows and cares for Sasha — a lot of angst and feelings of helplessness. But, it can’t approach what Sasha and his family have been through, and we will continue to support them and do everything we can to help them heal,” Jassy wrote in his February 2025 message. He also said that his “heart goes out to everyone impacted by the war” and expressed hope that there would be a “long-term peaceful path.”

On Saturday, Troufanov was released alongside Iair Horn and Sagui Dekel-Chen, who is an American citizen.

However, this almost did not happen as days before their release, Hamas threatened to delay it over alleged ceasefire violations by Israel. 

President Donald Trump then said Israel should “let all hell break out” if Hamas did not release all the remaining hostages by 12 p.m. eastern on Saturday.

He was taken hostage with his mother, grandmother and girlfriend, all of whom were released in November 2023 while he remained in captivity. AP

On Saturday, Troufanov was released alongside Iair Horn and Sagui Dekel-Chen, who is an American citizen. ZUMAPRESS.com

The terror group eventually walked back its threat on Thursday, saying the release would go on as planned.

After more than 15 months of war, on Jan. 19, Israel and Hamas entered a ceasefire deal in which 33 hostages are expected to be released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

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