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A freed hostage told Alon Ohel's family of his dire condition, saying he sees only shadows and still has shrapnel in his body from October 7. Hostages slept on a tunnel floor for months, sharing a single blanket. "Alon shared his with Eli Sharabi."
The father of Alon Ohel, an Israeli hostage abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, said Monday that his family received grim updates on his son’s dire conditions from a recently freed hostage.
Kobi Ohel told Ynet that his family spoke with Eliya Cohen, who was released on Saturday, and learned of the harsh circumstances in which Alon is being held. “Eliya was with Alon until Tuesday,” Kobi said. “He was kept in a tunnel, in darkness the entire time, starving and bound.”
According to Cohen’s account, Alon has a severe eye injury, leaving him able to see only shadows. “He is in pain. The sooner he gets treatment, the less damage there will be,” Kobi said.
Cohen’s testimony confirmed previous reports from two other freed hostages, Eli Sharabi and Or Levy, who had also been held with Alon. They described extreme deprivation, including sleeping on the floor and surviving on a single piece of flatbread a day—a ration that was only slightly increased in the past two weeks.
“They were forced to share a single blanket,” Kobi recounted. “Eli Sharabi shared his with Alon. After such an experience, their bond is incredible. They know every detail of each other’s lives—family, travels, relationships.”
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Alon’s eye injury, Kobi explained, was caused by shrapnel from Hamas gunfire on October 7, when he took shelter in a field shelter. Additional shrapnel remains lodged in his torso, arms and neck, causing severe discomfort.
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Ohad Ben Ami, Eli Sharabi, Or Levy during their release from Hamas captivity
During their conversation, Cohen recalled the anguish of leaving Alon behind. “As he was taken away, he could only think about what was going through Alon’s mind at that moment,” Kobi said. “Despite everything, Alon is surviving. But he doesn’t know what the future holds—neither does anyone else.”
Earlier this month, Alon’s family received the first sign of life from him through Sharabi and Levy, who confirmed he was shackled for the entire period of captivity and left without medical care for his injuries.
Kobi made an urgent plea for his son’s release. “Alon is a humanitarian [case]. He must be freed as soon as possible. This deal cannot be stopped—we must do everything to bring them home. I see no logic in resuming fighting before they return.”