Yosef Chaim Ohana and Elkana Bohbot in a Hamas propaganda video (Photo: Screenshot)
After Hamas released a video for the first time showing hostages Elkana Bohbot and Yosef Chaim Ohana, their families responded today (Tuesday) for the first time to the dire situation of their loved ones, which was evident in the footage. They spoke about their despair with the government, the faith that sustains them, and their emotional distress amid uncertainty following the resumption of fighting.
Avi Ohana, the father of Yosef Chaim, who has been held captive in Gaza for 536 days, addressed the new sign of life from his son. “We are going through a great upheaval. On one hand, I’m happy that we saw him after 535 days. He looks okay, a bit thinner. I’m glad he is clear-headed and spoke properly. But despite all this, you can see his distress and struggle,” the father said in an interview with Kalman Liebskind and Asaf Liberman on Kan Reshet Bet.
Avi explained that they are a religious family. “The only thing keeping me going is my faith. I pray and I see the beautiful people of Israel surrounding us with love wherever I go.”
Yosef’s father spoke about the need for a deal and the uncertainty. “I have a lot of hope that this won’t continue for much longer and that there will be a deal to bring these young people home as well. We understood that women, the elderly, and the sick would come first, but we didn’t understand that the young men would be delayed for a year and a half. And now, we don’t know where this is headed.”
Yosef Chaim’s heroism: “He doesn’t leave the wounded behind”
Speaking of his son’s heroism, Avi recounted, “He was traveling with friends, and they told me he helped a lot of people. He said, ‘I don’t leave the wounded behind.’ He was shot at, and until they captured him, he helped many people. He treated the wounded thanks to his first aid training, and when ambulances arrived, he helped evacuate them. There’s a video of him standing on the main road, telling drivers to turn around because the terrorists were coming from that direction.”
Avi also questioned where the country is heading and cried out about the families’ uncertainty. “War or not? We don’t know any more than anyone else. You’re living in the air, in prayer. I’m ashamed that as hostage families, we have to rely on Trump. We have to go to the U.S. representatives and ask for help because we are desperate with this government. Do we have to ask the Gentiles for help? We are the people of Israel; these are our children. Every conversation in the media that isn’t about the hostages should be set aside. The hostages come first. Feel our pain – we have no day or night.”
Avi continued, saying, “We are still in October 7; this isn’t over. We are not here – this is 24/7, just fighting for your child. I don’t even know what’s happening around me. And we have to ask Trump for help because we’re not getting help here? Was it not enough that they were abandoned on October 7? There is no justification for them still being held captive. This is unacceptable. Don’t sell us any stories. We never imagined this would last a year and a half.”
“It’s very painful, what’s happening in this country. All the political talk – legal advisors, the Shin Bet – it doesn’t matter. If they spoke as one voice on TV, it would give us strength. But you turn on the news, and you see all the disagreements, and where are our children in this picture? It adds suffering to our suffering. If I weren’t a man of faith, I’d be on medication in a hospital. But faith is what sustains me. Still, we have immense anger about what’s happening here. I’m not someone who goes to protests; I’m not part of the headquarters. I don’t judge those who do—every parent should do what they feel is right. But truly, this government—I have no more words, only pain.”
Ohana, 24, from Kiryat Malachi, was also kidnapped from the Nova festival. He was considered missing for two weeks before his family was informed that he had been abducted into Gaza. According to eyewitness accounts from the festival, Yosef assisted the wounded at the scene.
Elkana’s brother: “He is crying for help”
Uriel Bohbot, the brother of Elkana, also addressed the Hamas video. In an interview on the “Seder Yom” program on Kan Reshet Bet, he said, “The officers sent us the video, and we watched it. After 535 days of not seeing him, it was very emotional. I hadn’t seen or heard my brother for a year and a half, and we didn’t know what he was going through.”
He shared that their parents are in bad shape: “Our family has suffered a severe blow. We are living a nightmare, hell. We are captives, too. My parents’ health has seriously deteriorated.”
Uriel spoke directly to his brother, hoping he might hear: “Dear Elkana, we are doing everything to get you out. We want you to stay strong, not lose faith, not lose hope. We are working to get you home as soon as possible, with God’s help, and we won’t stop until we do.”
Significant weight loss and signs of steroid use
According to a medical evaluation received by Elkana’s family from renowned experts, based on the video released yesterday, they reached the following conclusions:
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Significant weight loss.
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Muscle atrophy in his arms, indicating malnutrition and lack of physical activity.
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Sunken eyes.
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Slumped right shoulder.
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Swollen or full-looking face, possibly due to steroid administration.
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Deep frustration and despair.
Conclusion: Clear signs of severe and prolonged physical and psychological distress in Elkana.
Elkana’s wife, Rivka, also responded to the video, posting on Instagram: “My love, what are they doing to you? Your face is swollen – what are they injecting into you? This isn’t you. Dear God, bring my husband home, I’m begging you.”
Elkana, 36, from Mevasseret Zion, was part of the production team for the Nova festival in Re’im, from which he was kidnapped on October 7. Elkana is a Colombian citizen and suffers from asthma.
His brother Uriel reiterated: “Dear Elkana, we are doing everything to bring you home. We want you to stay strong, not lose faith, not lose hope. We are working to get you home as soon as possible, with God’s help, and we won’t stop until we do.”
Written by KAN correspondents Kalman Liebskind, Asaf Liberman and Keren Neubach.
