Hamas released a video on Monday showing two Israeli hostages held in Gaza in Gaza after the assault on Israel on October 7, 2023.
The three-minute video shows two Israeli hostages, Elkana Bohbot and Yosef Haim Ohana, sitting on the floor in a dark room, speaking Hebrew to the camera.
The footage, with an unverifiable filming date, depicts them barefoot, unshaven, and wearing plain prison-style clothes. Both men were abducted from the Nova music festival during Hamas’s October 7 attack—Bohbot was 34 at the time, and Ohana was 23.
In the video the two men can be seen addressing a previously released hostage, requesting him to share his experiences in captivity to expedite their release.
Following the video’s release, Bohbot’s family sent a statement to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, requesting urgent action for the captives’ freedom.
“Imagine this is your son, the father of your grandchild, waiting to see daylight, hearing (Israeli army) bombs, and living in constant fear for his life,” the statement said.
“The video is a sign of life, but we want Elkana alive at home and the return of everyone,” it added.
The footage shows the men discussing their experiences since Israeli air strikes resumed in Gaza last week. They reflect on the period of ceasefire with Israel and Hamas that began in late January, noting how it facilitated increased humanitarian assistance and improved living conditions in the region.
Israel has not only restarted its heavy bombardment but also reinitiated ground operations in Gaza. These military activities resumed after talks with Hamas failed to extend the ceasefire that had commenced on January 19.
Of the 251 individuals taken captive during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 assault, 58 remain in Hamas custody, with authorities believing 24 of them are still living.