According to a report by Times of Israel, on October 16, 2025, Yosef-Haim Ohana was reunited with his father on October 13 after enduring over two years as a hostage in Gaza, where he faced extreme physical hardship.
His father, Rabbi Avi Ohana, revealed that Yosef-Haim and six other captives were forced to stand in a cramped underground pit for several days without being able to sit or lie down, struggling with barely enough air to breathe.
“[Their captors] put seven men in a pit,” Rabbi Ohana told Kan Moreshet radio. “They could not sit, only lean against the wall while standing. He lacked oxygen. I thank God, who made him strong. What kept him going was his family.”
This harrowing account illustrates the brutal conditions Hamas militants imposed during captivity. The lack of rest and oxygen made survival a daily challenge for the hostages.
In a poignant story from the ordeal, Yosef-Haim and another hostage were given a small radio by their captors, meant to play the Quran. Defiantly, they managed to tune it to Israel’s Army Radio station instead.
Yosef-Haim heard his father being interviewed and drew strength from the knowledge that his family was alive and waiting for his return.
“He said to himself, ‘My father is alive! He is waiting for me!’ and it gave him new life,” Rabbi Ohana shared.
This moment of hope amid despair highlights the resilience hostages maintained despite their brutal environment.
Yosef-Haim Ohana’s story adds to the testimonies of released hostages who survived immense trauma while held by Hamas.
The recent hostage deal that led to his release brings renewed attention to the ongoing efforts to secure the safe return of captives from Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces continue to support families and facilitate recovery for those released, while diplomatic and military channels work to resolve the hostage crisis fully.Continue, Full, Reading>>>>
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