Family of hostage Alon Ohel: ‘Video shows he’s now blind in his right eye; Hamas bears responsibility’

After the Hamas terror group released a propaganda video showing Alon Ohel, the hostage’s family says medical experts have told them that he is now blind in one eye.

“We were shocked to see Alon’s condition. After consulting with eye specialists in Israel and around the world, it is clear that Alon has lost sight in his right eye,” the family says in a statement.

“The frequent blinking we observe indicates severe difficulty focusing and seeing for extended periods,” the family says in a statement released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

“No international law permits holding an injured civilian captive without proper medical treatment,” the family says. “The responsibility for Alon’s well-being lies with his captors and Hamas leadership, who are obligated to preserve his life and health according to international law.”

The family reiterates its request that neither the video nor images from it are published by the media or shared online.

In February, the Kan public broadcaster reported that there were indications that Ohel could lose his sight due to shrapnel injuries, among other wounds. The assessment was made based on the testimonies of freed hostages.

Earlier today, Hamas released a video of Ohel and Guy Gilboa-Dalal.

It was the first time Ohel had been seen in a video since he and Gilboa-Dalal and 249 others were taken hostage during the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

The video was released as a major new Israeli offensive looms in Gaza City — where Gilboa-Dalal says in the clip that he is located.