An Israeli man, Uriel Bohbot, experienced shock and terror upon discovering that his brother, Elkana, had been taken hostage by Hamas after a propaganda video circulated online. In the distressing video, Uriel spotted his brother among the captives at the Nova festival when Hamas initiated their incursion on Saturday. Elkana was seen being forced into a truck heading back towards Gaza, along with an estimated 150 other captives who were taken by Hamas during their assault on Israel.

Uriel quickly took the first flight from San Francisco to Jerusalem to be with his family after witnessing the video. Elkana had assured his family’s safety before the attack, saying he was assisting people in leaving the area. Uriel explained, “I know my brother, and he would never leave anyone behind, and I think that’s why they caught him. At least we have this video, which is a sign of life.”

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Who is Elkana Bohbot?

Elkana, who runs an ice-cream shop in Tel Aviv, was among the festivalgoers who endured the tragedy that unfolded in southern Israel, resulting in more than 260 casualties as militants on paragliders and armed individuals in vans stormed the event.

Hamas has been using the hostages as leverage, threatening to execute a captive for every unannounced airstrike on civilian residences in Gaza. While Hamas has indicated a willingness to engage in discussions for a possible truce, tensions remain high.

On Wednesday, the Qassam Brigades (Hamas’ military wing) released a video showing the release of a female hostage and two children. Meanwhile, rocket sirens sounded in northern Israel following reports of an airspace intrusion from Lebanon, which led to concerns of the conflict spilling over into neighboring countries. The situation has garnered international attention, with U.S. President Joe Biden warning Iran against getting involved.

Initial U.S. intelligence reports suggested that while Iran likely knew of Hamas militants’ plans against Israel, some Iranian leaders were surprised by the group’s unprecedented attack from Gaza. On Sunday, it was reported that Iranian security officials had helped plan Hamas’ attack.

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Amidst the escalating crisis, reports have emerged, including some from Israeli sources, of gruesome atrocities, such as the decapitation of children in southern Israel. Hamas has denied such claims, dismissing them as “false.” The situation remains highly complex and fraught with violence, as international observers fear further escalation and potential spillover into other regions.