One of the Israeli hostages released by Hamas as part of the ceasefire deal was given a rapturous welcome on Tuesday by crowds of supporters in the West Bank settlement of Shilo.

People cheered and sang while waving to Avinatan Or on his way home to Shilo.

He thanked the Israeli soldiers "that are the real heroes in this story" as he addressed the emotional crowd.

"I wish for us to know how to take this love and unity and carry it forward, for years to come, and that we won't need wars for that. All of us in unity, only with love we will win, only with love will we win," he said.

Avinatan Or, 32, was kidnapped from the Nova music festival along with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, who was rescued by Israeli forces in June 2024.

On Oct. 7, Hamas released a video of the pair that has become one of the most well-known videos from that day.

It showed Argamani on an all-terrain vehicle crying, “Don’t kill me!” and reaching out her arms to Or, who is being marched away from her by militants.

Or worked in hi-tech in Tel Aviv before his abduction.

He was among the last 20 living hostages released by Hamas, all of whom were in stable condition Monday, medics said.

AP video by Shlomo Mor