German chancellor blasts ‘dehumanizing’ video of hostage Alon Ohel released by Hamas on Rosh Hashanah

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz blasts the “dehumanizing” propaganda video published by Hamas of hostage Alon Ohel, decrying its release on the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah.

“The dehumanizing footage of the German-Israeli national Alon Ohel, which Hamas published of all times on Rosh Hashanah, is unbearable. Hamas must immediately release all hostages,” Merz writes on X. “The ceasefire must come now, the suffering must end.”

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum requested that media outlets not publish the video until the family gives approval.

Alon’s parents, Irit and Kobi Ohel, said after the release of the video that their son is losing sight in his right eye and demanded that he see an eye doctor before any more humanitarian aid is approved or negotiations are held with Hamas.

They said the family was “shaken” by the footage, in which “it is clear that Alon is losing his vision in his right eye, and he is thin and frightened.”

Ohel, 24, a talented pianist, went to the Supernova desert rave with several friends, reaching the party at 5:30 a.m., an hour before the Hamas attack began. Ohel and his friends fled to a field shelter, which was later attacked by terrorists, with many of those inside murdered.

Ohel was taken captive along with Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eliya Cohen and Or Levy. Goldberg-Polin was murdered in captivity, while the latter two have been released as part of hostage deals.