Hamas was sitting on a goldmine - and they didn't even know

Israeli authorities have cleared for publication that Avinatan Or, one of the 20 living hostages released by Hamas on Monday, served in the IDF's elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit, a fact kept secret throughout his 738 days in captivity to prevent potential reprisals from his captors.

Or, 32, was abducted alongside his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, from the Nova music festival during Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

Argamani was rescued by Israeli forces in a high-profile operation earlier this year, but Or remained in Gaza until the recent ceasefire deal facilitated his release.

Sayeret Matkal, often compared to the U.S. Delta Force, is Israel's most prestigious special forces unit, operating under military intelligence and directly for the General Staff.

Or was on leave from active duty at the time of his abduction and attended the festival as a civilian, without uniform or weapons.

His military background was concealed from public knowledge and, crucially, from Hamas, to ensure his safety amid fears of targeted mistreatment.

Publicly, Or was described as a civilian employee at NVIDIA, where colleagues held weekly vigils and the company's CEO, Jensen Huang, mentioned him in internal meetings.

The revelation has sparked discussions on operational security, with experts noting that withholding such details likely saved his life. This is not to say that he was treated well. Held primarily in central detention camps, Or was systematically starved, losing between 30% and 40% of his body weight according to preliminary medical assessments. He was also completely isolated, never meeting other hostages and remaining largely unaware of developments in Israel since October 7, 2023.

Upon his release, Or reunited with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, requesting a private moment to share a cigarette together, their first in two years, during which he learned for the first time about her rescue in “Operation Arnon.”