1 week ago
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After nearly 500 days in captivity, Alon Ohel, a 24-year-old Israeli pianist, managed to send a birthday message to his sister through recently freed hostages, providing a rare glimpse into the harsh conditions endured by those still held in Gaza’s underground tunnels.
Ohel was captured during the October 7, 2023 attack. He was wounded by a grenade thrown into the bomb shelter where he had taken cover with almost 30 people on October 7, as they fled the attack led by Hamas gunmen on a music party.
His mother, Idit Ohel, learned through released hostages Or Levy and Eli Sharabi that her son survives on approximately one piece of bread per day and bears injuries from his initial capture, including shrapnel damage that has left him blind in his right eye.
“Alon has been in the tunnels all this time,” his mother said in an interview. “He hasn’t seen sunlight, doesn’t know the difference between day and night, has gotten little food – about one (piece of) bread a day. He cannot see in his right eye because of the shrapnel. And there are shackles on his legs.”
Those details were relayed to her by an army officer on Sunday from Or Levy and Eli Sharabi who were released on Saturday with another hostage, Ohad Ben Ami.
The recent release of several hostages has revealed increasingly dire conditions. Those freed have emerged visibly emaciated, with accounts of severe deprivation. Their gaunt, pale and skeletal appearance has shocked Israel. They looked in worse condition than most of the 18 other hostages freed since a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on January 19.
Ofer Kalderon, released on February 1, described a life without daylight or basic hygiene and said he was held in tunnels. The mother of Romi Gonen, released on January 19, told Reuters her daughter had lost around 10 kg (22 pounds) and did not see daylight in captivity.
“There was food and they didn’t get food,” said Meirav Leshem Gonen.
Israel has rejected suggestions that hostages are deprived of food because of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, brought on by its military offensive launched after the Hamas-led attack.
Conditions reportedly deteriorated following an Israeli military operation in June 2024 that rescued four hostages but resulted in significant Palestinian casualties. In response, Hamas moved more captives into tunnels, and Islamic Jihad announced harsher treatment of hostages. This escalation came amid growing international concern over the treatment of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees, with rights groups documenting abuse cases on both sides.
Despite Hamas’ claims of protecting captives’ wellbeing, a December Israeli Health Ministry report detailed systematic abuse, including torture, sexual violence, and medical neglect. Ohel’s name does not appear on the list of 33 hostages scheduled for release in the current ceasefire’s first phase, leaving his mother in anguished uncertainty.
“He knows how to survive. He knows, but this is not right. He does not have enough time,” his mother said tearfully. “He has to come home alive. Please, bring him home.”
The situation underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis as negotiations continue amid a fragile ceasefire, with the fate of remaining hostages hanging in the balance.
Melissa Enoch
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