Alon Ohel spent his 24th birthday yesterday in Hamas tunnels in Gaza. Recently released hostages confirmed to his family that he is alive but wounded. His mother, Idit, states that Alon does not know whether it is day or night due to the lack of natural light in the tunnels where he is being held. He sleeps on the floor, has no shoes, cannot move, is chained, and his legs are also shackled. Idit is calling on the Israeli government to begin the second phase of hostage releases as soon as possible. Honorary Consul in Israel, Aleksandar Nikolić, emphasized that the classification placing Alon in the second phase of the hostage release deal is no longer appropriate and that he must be moved to the first phase.
Idit Ohel, Alon’s mother, says that recently released Israeli hostages confirmed her son is alive but injured and has not received medical attention.
“On Saturday, hostages were released, and two of them had been with Alon from November 2023 until Saturday. They said they were held in the tunnels for 494 days. They told us about Alon’s condition. He does not know if it is day or night because there is no natural light in the tunnels where they are held. He sleeps on the floor, has no shoes, cannot move, is chained, and his legs are also shackled. Alon also has an eye injury from the abduction, with shrapnel in his eye and several other places on his body,” his mother, Idit, says.
Starving, Receiving Only One Loaf of Bread a Day
She states that he is starving, receiving only one loaf of bread a day, but finds comfort in the words of freed hostages who say Alon is in good mental condition, staying positive, and waiting to be released.
“I know he needs medical help, he needs food. On the other hand, I know my son is strong because he comes from a strong family. My grandfather lived in Novi Sad during World War II, managed to survive, and I know Alon will be okay because he carries that blood, that is his heritage,” says his mother, Idit.
Alon Ohel spent his 24th birthday yesterday in Hamas tunnels in Gaza.
“This is very hard for us, he is our whole world. We want him back with us as soon as possible, and it is difficult because he was not on the first list of 33 people who were released. Yesterday was his 24th birthday, the second birthday he has spent in captivity,” says Idit Ohel, Alon’s mother.
No Confirmation of When Alon Will Be Released
She has no clear confirmation that her son will be released soon, unlike others from his group.
“We have no confirmation because he was not on that first list of 33 people. Supposedly, he is in the second phase of the hostage releases. We know that between three and four people should be released every Saturday, but Alon is not on that first list; he is in the second phase, and negotiations for that phase have not yet started,” says Alon’s mother.
Idit is calling on the Israeli government to begin the second phase of hostage releases as soon as possible.
“It is crucial that the first and second phases of releases continue so that Alon can return home,” she pleaded.
Alon Ohel Was Abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023
On October 7, 2023, Hamas abducted Alon Ohel from a music festival in southern Israel. This young man of Serbian origin was among the 200 kidnapped at that time.
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Consul Nikolić: Alon Should Be Part of the First Phase of the Hostage Deal
At a gathering marking Alon Ohel’s 24th birthday at Hostages Square, alongside the kidnapped young man’s family was Aleksandar Nikolić, Honorary Consul of Serbia in Israel.
He stated that the event was dignified and that support was given to the family. He also noted that the family is handling the situation with great strength.
“On one hand, they are strengthened by the fact that they have finally received a sign of life since Alon was abducted on October 7, 2023. On the other hand, they are extremely concerned about his condition,” Nikolić said.
Speaking on the Morning News program, he said that due to Alon’s injuries and current state, he should be part of the first phase of the hostage agreement.
“I believe that the previous classification, which placed Alon, as a young civilian, in the second phase of the ceasefire and exchange agreement, is no longer appropriate. Considering that Alon is injured, he must urgently be moved into the remaining groups of the first phase because, in every possible sense, he is now a humanitarian case,” the Serbian consul emphasized.
Delays in the Hostage Release Planned for Saturday
Regarding Hamas’ announcement to delay hostage releases and the uncertainty surrounding the second phase of negotiations, Nikolić explained that, according to the Doha agreement, negotiations for the second phase were supposed to begin on the 16th day of the current first-phase implementation, which was back on February 3.
“Yesterday morning, the negotiating delegation returned from Doha. This time, it was not led by the head of Mossad, Dedi Barnea. According to reports, the discussions focused only on the remaining groups in the first phase, which includes men over 50 years old,” Nikolić stated.
He noted that the next three groups of hostages in the first phase were supposed to be released over the coming weekends, but this plan is now at significant risk of delays. This also includes the final stage, which involves transferring the remains of those hostages who, unfortunately, are no longer alive.
Pressure from Hostage Families
“The Association of Families of Kidnapped Hostages is extremely well-organized. They are using the most appropriate and strategic ways to influence public opinion here,” Nikolić stated.
He pointed out that these families are acting as a counterweight to a segment of Israeli society that opposes the second phase—namely, a complete ceasefire and total withdrawal of Israeli forces from the remaining areas of Gaza, particularly the Philadelphi Corridor, which separates Gaza from the neighboring Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.
“In other words, this association has found the best way to touch the most sensitive, most humane feelings of this society, and they are truly doing sacred work,” the Serbian honorary consul emphasized.
Testimonies from Released Hostages
Nikolić highlighted the horrifying testimonies of the freed Israeli hostages about their captivity.
He noted comparisons to survivors of Nazi concentration camps.
“We are talking about something that cannot be compared to anything in human history—it is the Holocaust. However, the associations were inevitable, considering the state in which they were found—the emaciation, the hollow gazes, people who were deliberately starved and subjected to pathological, bestial abuse,” Nikolić stated.
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Source: RTS, Foto: Michel Dot Com