Al-Qassam Brigades—the military wing of Hamas—released a video of an Israeli captive, while Israeli media described the footage as “harsh psychological warfare propaganda,” on Saturday evening.
Elkana Bohbot, who identified himself as “captive No. 22,” confirmed that he was the one who requested the video be recorded —not Hamas— having previously sent a message to Benjamin Netanyahu’s government published by the Qassam Brigades on March 24, along with another captive.
In the video, the Israeli captive is seen crying and shouting, pleading with his government to bring him back and secure his release from Gaza, just as Israeli female soldiers and elderly detainees were freed during the first phase of the ceasefire agreement’s captive exchange in January and February.
Elkana appealed to the Israeli occupation’s General Labor Union, saying, “I’m suffocating—I need to get out of here,” and then questioned, “You defend your recognized workers, so why won’t you stand up for me?” The Israeli captive stressed that no military operation could force the release of Israeli captives from Gaza, warning that “any such attempt would only get them killed.”
In his earlier message, where he appeared alongside fellow captive Hayim Ohana—who identified himself as “Captive No. 21″—Elkana warned that “Israel’s renewed attacks on Gaza would mean the end for us.”
The two captives noted that their handlers had initially treated them well—they were no longer starving, had access to fresh air, and conditions improved when the ceasefire deal took effect and border crossings reopened. However, they suffered a harsh setback on the 18th of this month when the war on Gaza resumed.
