Sydney Sweeney embraces freed Israeli hostages in emotional show of support

Sydney Sweeney is receiving praise for meeting with freed Israeli hostages, Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or, following their release from Hamas captivity in Gaza.

The Euphoria actress, 28, was photographed with her arms wrapped around Argamani and Or, who were abducted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants stormed the Nova music festival in southern Israel.

A warm photo of the trio was shared by the nonprofit pro-Israel advocacy organization StandWithUs, prompting an outpouring of praise across social media for Sweeney's show of support.

Fans were touched by the star's gesture, with many rushing to social media to express that she 'just keeps giving' them 'more reasons to love her every day.'

'This warmed my heart,' another gushed as a third described her as 'brave enough to stand for what’s right.' 

'She’s not afraid of being cancelled in Hollywood. Bravo,' a fourth applauded. 

Meanwhile, Itai Biran, a diplomat at the Israeli Consulate General to the Midwest in Chicago, wrote on X: 'Turns out it's not just the jeans that fit well, it's the values too.'

The UK National Jewish Assembly also applauded the actress, writing: 'Brilliant actor, and genuinely admirable to see her take the time to meet them and show support.'

Argamani was held captive by Hamas for 245 days before being freed on June 8, 2024. Her partner, Or, endured 738 days in captivity and was released in October 2025 after more than two years.

Last year, Argamani, who is followed by Selma Blair and Ivanka Trump, made TIME's annual list of the world's most influential people.

While speaking about the honor to her 206K Instagram followers, Argamani said she was 'humbled to serve as a voice for the hostages who remain in captivity.' 

In November, she thanked President Donald Trump for his 'unwavering focus and leadership,' which she credited for bringing 'the hostages home.' 

'‏Thank you to everyone who was part of this journey, to those who opened doors, and to everyone who acted, believed, and never ignored us. You kept hope alive. You brought him home. I cannot describe my gratitude; you let our families breathe again,' she wrote in an emotional post to her social media followers.

While it was not immediately clear when the meeting took place with Sweeney, Argamani and Or were visiting the United States on vacation at the time.

The encounter came amid Sweeney's relationship with music executive Scooter Braun, who has frequently spoken at StandWithUs events and has previously met with both Argamani and Or. 

Braun first met Argamani during a surprise appearance at the Global Citizen Festival in New York in September 2024, later sharing on Instagram that the experience left him 'in tears.'

He also reunited with both Argamani and Or during their visit to the U.S. last month, describing the meeting on Instagram as a 'Beautiful night getting to see these two together.'

Braun, whose grandparents were Jewish Holocaust survivors, spoke publicly last month following antisemitic terrorist attacks on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia.

'My Jewish friends feel like everyone is talking about gun violence or a massacre, but no one is talking about the fact that these were Jews in an increasingly hostile and dangerous environment for Jews all around the world,' Braun said in a statement shared by StandWithUs on social media. 

She and Braun have been dating since around September 2025, after first connecting at Jeff Bezos's wedding in Italy in June 2025.

The couple appeared to spend Thanksgiving together at her oceanfront home in the Florida Keys and have taken a number of romantic getaways together. 

Last month, a source told People: 'Scooter and Sydney are going strong and things between them are great.

'They’re in a committed relationship and things are serious,' the insider added of their whirlwind, four-month romance.