The Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on Saturday released a third propaganda video featuring Israeli hostage Elkana Bohbot, who has been held in the Gaza Strip since his abduction from the Nova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im on Oct. 7, 2023.
In the edited footage, Bohbot appears visibly weakened and distressed, speaking in a scripted phone call to his family in Israel. He expresses fear for his life and urges continued efforts to secure his release. The video is the latest in a series of psychological tactics employed by Hamas to manipulate public opinion and pressure the Israeli government.
Hamas just forced hostage Elkana Bohbot, 36, to fake a phone call with his family - for the third time.
— Israel News Pulse (@israelnewspulse) April 19, 2025
He has been held hostage for over 550 days.
This is pure psychological torture. pic.twitter.com/E72WeTu6eO
Bohbot, a young Israeli civilian, pleads for intervention and references recent petitions by Israel Defense Forces reservists calling for a hostage release deal. He also implores his brother to seek assistance from U.S. President Donald Trump, citing rapidly deteriorating conditions in captivity.
The Bohbot family responded with anguish, highlighting their concern over Elkana’s health and questioning why he has not been included in previous humanitarian releases facilitated by international mediators. “We are devastated,” the family said in a statement. “Why has our son not been prioritized?”
The video was released as the Israeli government continues military operations in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday reiterated his rejection of Hamas’s demands for a permanent ceasefire in exchange for hostages, insisting that pressure must be maintained on the terror organization.
As of this week, 59 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, with intelligence assessments indicating that fewer than half are still alive. Israeli officials have condemned the Hamas hostage videos as a form of psychological warfare designed to sow division within Israeli society and stall the IDF’s momentum.
The Oct. 7 attack claimed the lives of over 1,200 people and led to the abduction of more than 250 civilians and soldiers into Gaza. The Israeli military has since launched a full-scale campaign to dismantle Hamas’s infrastructure and secure the release of the remaining hostages.
