Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang sent an emotional email to company employees on Monday, announcing the release of Israeli hostage Avinatan Or, an Nvidia employee held by Hamas since the October 7, 2023 attack.
“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.”
He praised Or’s mother, Ditsa, for her “strength, courage, and unwavering hope,” which he said “have inspired us all.” Huang noted that Nvidia 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.”
Close
Ditsa Or holding a sign of her son, Avinatan. Credit: Tomer Appelbaum
Ditsa Or holding a sign of her son, Avinatan. Credit: Tomer Appelbaum
Huang also referred to the heavy toll the war has taken on the company’s workforce in Israel and abroad. “Thousands of Nvidia employees have served with extraordinary bravery in defense of their communities during the war,” he wrote. “Many have faced immense pain, loss, and uncertainty. Some have lost family members or loved ones.”
He mentioned several personal losses within the company, including the death of Nvidia employee Amit Chayut and the killing of Danielle Waldman, the daughter of Mellanox founder Eyal Waldman, and her partner, Noam, on October 7. Huang said the company remembers them with love and holds Waldman and his family in its thoughts and prayers.
“The losses to our Jewish, Druze, and Arab families alike have been immense,” Huang continued. “Grief knows no borders, no faiths, no divisions. We mourn together, and we hope together – for peace, understanding, and a future without fear.”
“As all hostages return to their families, we witness the close of a painful chapter and the beginning of long-awaited healing for the region,” he wrote.
“Avinatan – welcome home. Your safe return brings profound relief and joy to the entire Nvidia family. May this moment mark the first step toward recovery, renewal, and lasting peace – for all who have been touched by this war.”