The families of two Israeli hostages, Elkana Bohbot and Ohana, are pleading directly for international intervention. Their joint appeal follows the release of a fourth video earlier today, showing the captives held in Gaza. The video, published days after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire officially ended, provides the first proof that the two are still alive. It is a moment to celebrate, as they were kidnapped more than 17 months ago. Bohbot, 34, and Ohana, 23, were abducted during the Hamas assault on the Supernova music festival. This horrifying attack took place on the morning of October 7, 2023.
In addition to raising concerns about Bohbot’s serious physical condition, his family wrote about severe weight loss from ongoing refusal to eat. They state that he was in “extremely bad shape.” He has skin and respiratory ailments, both exacerbated by the lack of exposure to sunlight in captivity. The family has permitted the release of this video in the hope of providing urgency and awareness to the plight of the hostages.
"Please, imagine this is your son, the father of your grandchild, waiting to see daylight, hearing IDF (Israel Defense Forces) bombs, and living in constant fear for his life," said Bohbot's family.
For the next several minutes, we see Bohbot and Ohana sitting together on the floor of a dark room. During their detention, they are dressed in bland prison-like garments. They discuss the immediate ceasefire declared in the Israel/Palestine conflict in late January, negotiated by Qatar. Although the ceasefire allowed for enhanced humanitarian aid into Gaza, making life more bearable for many, its breakdown has stalled these efforts.
The breakdown of the ceasefire has resumed hostility in this region already known for its violence. Despite continuing efforts by Egypt and Qatar to bring about a new ceasefire, developments are still entirely at an impasse. For its part, Ohana’s family has not released a statement about the video.
The families’ emotional pleas go to show the lack of hope in a situation where families are still waiting to hear back about their loved ones. Still, the vividness of the new video serves to dramatically underscore the ongoing human toll that the conflict continues to exact. It highlights our intense desire for diplomatic solutions.
