For each of the 737 days Bar Kuperstein spent as a hostage in Gaza, he would have dreamt of the moment he could embrace his family again.

But he is unlikely to have imagined seeing his father Tal rise out of his wheelchair for the first time in five years to greet him.

Bar, an army nurse, was taken hostage by Hamas at the Supernova festival on Oct 7 after he stayed to help people who had been shot.

From the age of 17, he had helped run the family household after his father suffered a stroke during surgery which left him disabled and unable to speak or move.

But with his son in captivity, Tal learnt to talk and stand again, vowing to advocate for his release.

“Two years of an impossible journey – two years in which we did everything we could to make sure everyone knew who Bar is – and now, everyone will finally get to truly know him,” the family said in a statement.

“Two years during which Tal kept moving forward, doing everything possible despite his own challenges – all so he could be ready for that hug with Bar.”

In footage released of the reunion, Tal stands and wraps his arms around his son, who is draped in an Israeli flag.