Hamas Publishes New Video of Israeli-German Hostage Alon Ohel

Hamas’ armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, on Monday released a video showing Israeli-German hostage Alon Ohel alive — the second such footage of him made public this month.

Ohel, 24, was kidnapped during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and was later identified in the footage by his family and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. The family has asked media outlets not to share his photograph or clips from the video.

In the recording, Ohel, wearing a black t-shirt, appeals directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the release of all captives still being held in Gaza. He also urges his relatives to continue protesting against Netanyahu’s government to press for their freedom.

The video shows Ohel speaking while watching Netanyahu on a television screen, with an armed militant dressed in black tapping his shoulder. AFP said it could not immediately verify when the footage was filmed.

“Our family is shaken and in pain following the release of Alon’s video by Hamas,” his parents, Idit and Kobi Ohel, said in a statement. “It’s evident that Alon is losing vision in his right eye, and he appears thin and distressed.” They called for him to receive urgent treatment from an eye specialist.

They stressed that the fate of their son and other captives lies with Israel’s leadership. “On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, during these days of repentance, the fate of young Jewish lives – Israeli citizens – now rests in the hands of the prime minister and the cabinet. Do not break the heart of the people of Israel. The most important national message right now is bringing Alon and all the hostages home to their families,” they said.

Ohel had planned to begin music studies after returning from a trip to Asia but was abducted at the Supernova music festival. He was seized on Route 232, the only escape road from the event, while sheltering with three other young men.

On September 5, Hamas released an earlier video featuring Ohel alongside another hostage, Guy Gilboa-Dalal.

According to Israeli figures compiled by AFP, Hamas militants captured 251 people during their October 2023 assault, of whom 47 remain in Gaza — including 25 the Israeli military believes are dead. The attack itself killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians.

Israel’s ongoing military offensive in response has since killed at least 65,344 people in Gaza, the majority civilians, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry — figures the United Nations deems reliable.

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