October 7 · Personal story
Yuly Cunio
Abducted
October 7, 2023
Abduction location
Home in Kibbutz Nir Oz
Current outcome
Released alive · November 27, 2023
Released alive after 52 days in captivity
01
Before October 7
Yuly Cunio grew up in Kibbutz Nir Oz with her twin sister Emma and their parents, Sharon and David. The girls were three in October 2023. Their community recalls music playing at home, family milestones, neighbours coming through the door, small pools on the lawn and a trampoline. Sharon’s sister Danielle Aloni and her daughter Emilia were staying with them for the Simchat Torah weekend. Their holiday visit brought the extended family together before the attack.
02
October 7
On October 7, David held the safe-room door shut while the family sheltered inside. When attackers set the house on fire, smoke filled the room. David took Yuly through the window; the others followed as the fire made staying inside impossible. Armed men captured the family outside. Yuly remained with her father and mother, but Emma was separated from them. Sharon’s later account describes the fear of not knowing whether the other twin was alive.
03
In captivity
Sharon told AP that she, David and Yuly were first held under guard in a home. When an explosion damaged the building, both parents climbed over Yuly to protect her. The captors later transferred them by ambulance to a hospital. Emma was brought back to the family there. The twins slept beside Sharon on a small bed in a crowded room. Food was irregular, and adults shared their portions with the children. Another captive made longer pyjama trousers from spare clothes for the girls, who had been taken in underwear and tank tops. The captors demanded quiet and controlled access to the toilet. Shortly before the women and children were released, David was taken away. Sharon recalled the girls crying and asking why their father could not stay with them.
04
Return
Yuly returned with Sharon and Emma on November 27, 2023, after 52 days in captivity. Her aunt Danielle and cousin Emilia had been released on November 24. Her father David and uncle Ariel remained in Gaza. The family stayed near Sharon’s parents in central Israel. Their return brought the children back to relatives, but the separation from David continued long after the November deal.
05
After captivity
In January 2024, Sharon described taking the twins to preschool and comforting them at night. Danielle later explained that relatives helped care for the girls while Sharon took part in the campaign to free David. David and Ariel returned alive on October 13, 2025. In her interview later that month, Danielle spoke about seeing David read to the girls and settle them to sleep. Yuly’s reunion with her father followed almost two years of separation.