Former hostage Ohad Ben Ami sends a message to his fellow former captives, Elkana Bohbot, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Bar Kuperstein, Segev Kalfon, and Maxim Herkin, as they are being released to return home to Israel.
“Elkana, Yosef, Bar, Segev, Maxim, my souls, I love you,” says Ben Ami. “Listen well, all of the nation of Israel waited for you, is waiting for you, you can’t imagine what was going on here. I will finally see you and hold you, we will do all the things we planned after you reunite with your families. You’ll recover, you’ll see, I regained all of my weight,” adds Ben Ami, who was released in February 2025 in an emaciated state.
“I love you, you’re so strong, you held on, I’m so proud of you, I love you, love you!” says Ben Ami.
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
— Gabriella Jacobs, multimedia journalist
Support our work
Support our work
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You're a dedicated reader
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this