From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Dermer and Netanyahu not speaking to hostage’s family, says mother
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleNava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
The mother of hostage Elkana Bohbot says that her family hasn’t received any communication from Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, the new leader of the hostage negotiating team, or the Prime Minister’s Office.
“No one is speaking with us,” says Ruhama Bohbot when asked by Channel 12 if any government officials, including Dermer and Prime Minister Netanyahu, have contacted family.
She adds that “the only people speaking with us are our officers,” likely referring to IDF liaison officers assigned to support the families of hostages.
Hamas published a propaganda video yesterday evening showing Israeli hostages Elkana Bohbot and Yosef-Haim Ohana, who were both kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7 and are still being held in Gaza by the terror group.
Ruhama says she was shocked by Elkana’s depleted state in the video and that his family is especially concerned for his health as he suffers from asthma.
“This isn’t Elkana,” says Ruhama, describing her response to seeing him for the first time in nearly a year and a half. “This isn’t the son I know.”
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