Israel at War: Week 113

Alon Ohel, 24 years old, was held by Hamas for two years. Hamas released him October 13, 2025. In an interview with Israel Channel 12, he says, “I was an animal. They take away your freedom of movement, put chains on your legs.”

His captors chose to starve them. “They starved us. They gave us dried dates to eat. You get used to starvation, to pains in your body at times.” The captors “chose to starve them, even though we knew that they had food. “ Not surprisingly he appeared skeletal and looked like a corpse lying down.

“My story begins when I determined to live.” He tells of what helped him during his time in Hamas captivity. One action he took was a daily conversation with his mother. “I would talk to her, telling her, “Everything’s okay, I’m alive.” He also relied on his fellow hostage Eli Sharabi, who lost his wife and two children on October 7, 2023. He became like a father figure to Alon. “He carried me on his back many times.” He advised Alon, “To break is OK, to fall apart, to cry, but never lose hope.”

He gives this significant reminder of his experience. “Even in prison there is a system. I was not in prison, I was in captivity. They’re crazy people. If you’re not strong mentally, you can go crazy.”

His story is so meaningful to me personally, because our Monday Night Israel Situation Report group has a personal connection with Alon’s family. Our friend Josh, who gives our weekly Israel report, met Alon’s parents, and has talked with them regularly during Alon’s captivity, following their highs and lows of not knowing the truth about his condition. We prayed for him and his family as a group until he was released. What a joy to see him come home from this ordeal alive.

Welcome home, Alon. We thank God you survived!

(Source: The Times of Israel)