Watch | Hamas releases video of Israeli hostage: ‘The real psychological warfare is not seeing my son’

The video of the hostage, purportedly shot in Gaza, shows the man pleading to Netanyahu for an end to the bombardment of the region

Updated on: Mar 30, 2025, 05:02:16 IST

By HT News Desk, Ria Amol Wadikar

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Hamas on Saturday released a video purportedly showing an Israeli hostage in Gaza, who was pleading with the Benjamin Netanyahu-led government to cease bombardment and secure his release.

Hamas's armed wing on Saturday released footage showing an Israeli hostage in Gaza calling for an end to the violence in the territory and his release (TheArabEye/X)

The man, who was identified as Elkana Bohbot online, had been abducted during the October 7, 2023 attack in Gaza. The video has since its release been shared across social media.

Also Read: Israel calls slain Al Jazeera journalist Hamas' 'sniper terrorist'

HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the video, including when and where in the Gaza strip it was recorded.

The three-minute long video, shows the man speaking in Hebrew and addressing Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asking him to secure his release by stopping strikes in Gaza.

Hostage asks for bombardment to end

Bohbot said that the ongoing bombardment could cost him his life, pleading to be reunited with his wife and son.

Also Read: Trump administration mulls blocking foreign students with ‘pro-Hamas’ views from colleges: Report

He says in the video, “I asked to record this video, not Hamas. This is not psychological warfare. The real psychological warfare is me waking up without seeing my son, my wife. This makes my health not well. Do you not understand? I want to get out of here!”

Also Read: Tears, rubble, 50,000 dead in Gaza as Israel-Hamas war rages on | Photos

While crying and ripping his shirt in distress, he added, “You struck a deal and got the others out. Why not us? Why can't my son say ‘Baba’, why is my wife alone?”

He criticised the drone strikes against Hamas as well, saying, “We are under bombardment for 24 hours. There are explosions everywhere. They say you are trying to get us out using force. This will only kill us, why can you not comprehend that.”

The footage, released by Hamas' armed wing Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades, is the second video released this week with hostages calling for a truce.

After Israel renewed its offensive in Gaza, Hamas has warned that the strikes aimed against them could put the hostages in danger.

Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel, 58 remain in captivity in Gaza.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ria Amol Wadikar
Journalist at the Hindustan Times with an interest in politics, world affairs and law. She loves to read, and write stories about social phenomena.Read More

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