Kidnapping of Alon Ohel

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Alon Ohel
אלון אהל
Алон Охел
Background information
Born (2001-02-10) February 10, 2001 (age 24)
Lavon, Israel
OriginIsrael, Serbia
OccupationPianist
InstrumentPiano

On 7 October 2023, Alon Ohel—an Israeli-Serbian[1] pianist—was abducted by Hamas during the Nova Music Festival massacre. He was held hostage in the Gaza Strip for two years, until his release on 13 October 2025 as part of the Gaza peace plan.[2]

Biography

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Ohel was born in 2001 to Idit and Yaakov (Kobi) Ohel and grew up in Lavon in the Upper Galilee. He began playing the piano at the age of nine and studied music in high school. Influenced by both classical music and jazz, he performed a recital at the end of his studies and often took part in jam sessions and improvisations.[3] He planned to continue his musical studies at the Rimon School of Music in October 2023 after returning from a trip to Asia, and to move to Tel Aviv, but those plans were cut short by the October 7 attacks and his subsequent abduction.[4]

Ohel has a brother and a sister. His family lives in Lavon, Israel. He is reportedly a citizen of Serbia and Israel.[5]

Kidnapping

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Still of video showing Hamas militant about to enter shelter that Ohel and others were sheltering in during the attack.

On the morning of 7 October 2023, Ohel attended the Nova music festival near Re'im, when Hamas launched the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. During the attack, he and 26 others took refuge in what later became known as the "Death Shelter" at the Re'im junction. After prolonged fighting by the festival-goers, Hamas gunmen entered the shelter and abducted Ohel along with Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Or Levi and Elia Cohen, all of whom were wounded to varying degrees.[6]

According to testimonies from released hostages, including Eli Sharabi and Elia Cohen, Ohel was injured during the attack by shrapnel that struck his eye, causing the loss of vision in one eye and possible severe damage to the other.[7]

Captivity

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Following the release of fellow hostage Or Levi in February 2025, Ohel’s family received the first proof of life from him, confirming that he remained in captivity.[8] Levi testified that Ohel was chained by his legs, severely malnourished, and suffering from untreated injuries, including near-blindness.[9] In April 2025, his family claimed that a 19-year-old had stitched his wounds without anesthesia and then given acetaminophen.[10]

On 5 September 2025, a video released by Hamas showed Ohel for the first time since his abduction, alongside Guy Galboa Dalal, appealing for his release.[11] The video had been filmed in August 2025 and reportedly after filming letters from Ohel and Galboa-Dalal were handed over the Red Cross.[12] After his release Ohel stated that he had been mostly chained in a single tunnel while held as a captive, until being moved to a central part of Gaza about 40 days before his release. He also stated that Hamas militants had used him as a human shield and moved into combat areas after the Israel Defense Forces offensive into Gaza City began.[13]

Efforts to release

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After the abduction, the slogan "Alon You Are Not Alone" spread widely and was inscribed on pianos across Israel and abroad.[14] His family placed his piano at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv as part of the campaign by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.[15][16] The project later expanded to around 30 “yellow pianos” worldwide, dedicated to raising awareness of the hostages' plight.[17]

His brother initiated a new recording of the song "Shuvi Eli" with Israeli musician Avishai Cohen in his honor.[18] On his 24th birthday in February 2025, thousands gathered in Hostages Square to mark his second birthday in captivity, attended by musicians such as Ivri Lider and public figures calling for his release.[19] His mother spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and later stated that she told Netanyahu that Ohel's fate was his responsibility and that during the conversation she spoke and Netanyahu listened.[5]

In April 2025, his family spoke about Ohel's condition and suggested a proposal of evacuating all injured hostages to a neutral country for treatment at Hostages Square. Their proposal was reportedly given to Netanyahu's close associates, Israeli hostage envoy and Shin Bet representatives along with senior US envoys Adam Boehler and Steve Witkoff. His family also expressed their outrage about any humanitarian aid being allowed into Gaza, repeating prior allegations from the Israeli government that allegedly the aid was going to Hamas and that injured hostages are being left untreated.[10]

In September 2025, after the release of the Hamas video showing Ohel, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz posted about the video on social media calling it "dehumanizing footage" and called for the release of all hostages and a ceasefire.[20]

Release

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On 13 October 2025, after 737 days in captivity, Ohel was released from Gaza as part of the United States-brokered Gaza peace plan between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar and Egypt.[21] His release was widely covered in Israeli and international media, with public celebrations across Israel, particularly at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where yellow pianos were played in his honor.[22] He was discharged from Rabin Medical Center on 24 October. During the ride to his home, crowds gathered at Mitzpheh Aviv junction and at Misgav Regional Council to see his motorcade go by. Upon arrival at his home, he thanked his supporters, stating that he was incredibly happy to see all the love and well wishes.[23]

Post release activities

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In November 2025, it was announced that Ohel had undergone two surgeries at Beilinson Hospital to treat his shoulder and eye that were both damaged during the attack and had deteriorated during the captivity. Although assessments of photos released during his captivity had predicted that he had lost all vision in his injured eye, Israeli doctors stated that they were hopeful in being able to restore part of his vision in the eye.[24]

Also in November 2025, Ohel was a musical guest on Israeli sketch comedy show Eretz Nehederet as follow up to the performance earlier in the year by Israeli singer Hanan Ben Ari that was dedicated to Ohel and was part of a national recognition of hostages campaign.[25]

References

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  1. ^ Times, Serbian (2025-10-13). "SERBIAN CITIZEN FINALLY FREE: Hamas released the first seven hostages, among them Alon Ohel!". Retrieved 2025-10-14.
  2. ^ "Israeli pianist Alon Ohel freed from Gaza as part of hostage deal". Reuters. 13 October 2025.
  3. ^ Hashmonai, Adi (3 October 2024). "101 hostages, 363 days – "Behind every hostage there is a whole life": The family of Alon Ohel fights for him through his great love". Haaretz.
  4. ^ "After 738 Days: These Are the Seven Israeli Hostages Released by Hamas From Gaza in the First Round". Haaretz. 2025-10-13. Archived from the original on 2025-10-13.
  5. ^ a b Kovačević, Antonije (2025-09-07). "A SERBIAN'S MOTHER HEARTBREAKING TESTIMONY: "My Son's Life Is Now in Netanyahu's Hands, We Trust Him"! | Serbiantimes.info EN". Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  6. ^ Chechanover, Yael (24 June 2024). "Abducted from the "Death Shelter" and dragged away bleeding: The kidnapping video of Or, Hersh, and Elia". Ynet.
  7. ^ Cohen, Yolan (10 February 2025). "Freed hostages said: "Alon, Elia and Or shared food to the last crumb. They were treated like animals"". Mako.
  8. ^ "Family of hostage Alon Ohel: "We received the first proof of life today"". Globes. 9 February 2025.
  9. ^ Gordon, Leah (10 February 2025). "First proof of life from Alon Ohel: "He has been chained since the beginning of captivity, wounded in the eye, and untreated"". Ynet.
  10. ^ a b Ciechanover, Yael (2025-04-28). "'Treated by an untrained teenager': Family of hostage Alon Ohel reveal his injuries, condition in captivity". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  11. ^ Ganot, Gal (5 August 2025). "First video proof of life from hostage Alon Ohel – with Guy Galboa Dalal: "Bring us home"". Ynet.
  12. ^ "Hamas delivered letters to now-freed hostages' families via Red Cross after filming propaganda video — report". The Times of Israel. 2025-10-18. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  13. ^ "Alon Ohel reportedly says he was used as human shield by Hamas during IDF's Gaza City offensive". The Times of Israel. 2025-10-14. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  14. ^ "'Alon, you're not alone': A mother's musical outreach to her hostage son". i24NEWS. 2024.
  15. ^ German, Atara (7 January 2024). "A piano in Hostages Square: The story of Alon Ohel, kidnapped from the Nova party". Makor Rishon.
  16. ^ Riegert, Bernd (July 11, 2025). "Families of Israeli hostages in Gaza rally support in Berlin – DW – 07/11/2025". dw.com. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  17. ^ Cohen, Avi (5 February 2025). ""You are not alone": The yellow piano of hostage Alon Ohel inaugurated at Ichilov". Israel Hayom.
  18. ^ Kidon, Sharon; Azoulay, Moran (9 November 2023). "Musician Alon Ohel abducted at the party: "We all hope that the call through music will help"". Ynet.
  19. ^ Turjeman, Meir (10 February 2025). "Birthday for Alon Ohel at Hostages Square: "World leaders called, only our government didn't"". Ynet.
  20. ^ "German chancellor blasts 'dehumanizing' video of hostage Alon Ohel released by Hamas on Rosh Hashanah". The Times of Israel. 2025-09-23. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  21. ^ "Israeli pianist Alon Ohel among hostages freed in Gaza under 21-Point Agreement". BBC News. 13 October 2025.
  22. ^ "Music and tears as Alon Ohel returns home". The Times of Israel. 14 October 2025.
  23. ^ Steinberg, Jessica (2025-10-24). "'Everything's getting better from here on': Released hostage Alon Ohel cheered home". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2025-11-19.
  24. ^ Gal, Itay (2025-11-03). "Alon Ohel undergoes eye, shoulder surgeries at Beilinson | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2025-11-18.
  25. ^ "Freed Hostage Alon Ohel Plays Piano on Israeli Sketch Comedy Show 'Eretz Nehederet'". Jewish Exponent. November 4, 2025. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
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  • Media related to Alon Ohel at Wikimedia Commons
  • “Alon, You’re Not Alone” – i24NEWS feature (YouTube)