Former Israeli hostage urges release of remaining captives
Ohad Ben Ami, who was kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri during the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack and spent 491 days in captivity in Gaza (including time in the tunnel network), publicly recounts the harsh conditions he endured and pleads for the return of roughly 48 hostages still held. Ben Ami says his wife, Raz, was freed in a February 2025 exchange but many companions remain captive, and he charges Israeli authorities with feeling "disconnected" from hostages' plight while urging renewed efforts to secure releases.
International
War & Conflict
📌 Key Facts
- Ohad Ben Ami was captured during Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Kibbutz Be'eri and spent 491 days in captivity.
- He was held in multiple locations in Gaza, including below ground in Hamas tunnel networks with very poor sanitary conditions and limited food.
- Ben Ami's wife, Raz Ben Ami, was released in a February 2025 hostage‑prisoner exchange; about 48 hostages remain in Gaza according to the article.
📚 Contextual Background
- A 2025 U.S. peace plan specified that Hamas would release 48 remaining hostages, about 20 of whom were believed to be alive, within three days.
- A 2025 U.S. peace plan linked a hostage release to a reciprocal exchange involving Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
- When the leadership echelon of an armed group is degraded or communications are disrupted, decentralized or multiple armed actors can complicate centralized control and communication, which can make coordinated, full hostage releases difficult and lead to staged or phased releases as logistics permit.