After 500 days, the Gaza hostage sends a message from their underground prison

After 500 days, an Israeli captive revealed the appalling living conditions in the tunnels in Gaza in his first communication to his family.

Alon Ohel, a 24-year-old Israeli pianist, sent a birthday greeting to his sister via recently released detainees after over 500 days in captivity. This gave a unique look into the terrible circumstances faced by those still trapped in Gaza’s underground tunnels.

Ohel was taken prisoner on October 7, 2023. He was injured when a grenade was hurled into the bomb shelter where he and almost thirty others had sought refuge on October 7 in order to escape the Hamas gunmen’s attack on a music festival.

Or Levy and Eli Sharabi, two freed captives, told his mother Idit Ohel that her son survives on around one piece of bread a day and has wounds from his original detention, including shrapnel damage that has caused him to lose his right eye due to blindness.

In an interview, his mother stated, “Alon has been in the tunnels all this time.” He has only received a small amount of food—roughly one slice of bread each day—and hasn’t seen sunshine or the difference between day and night. Because of the shrapnel, he is unable to see in his right eye. Additionally, his legs are shackled.

On Sunday, an army officer informed her of those specifics from Or Levy and Eli Sharabi, who were freed on Saturday together with Ohad Ben Ami, another captive.

Conditions have been worse after a number of captives were recently released. There have been reports of extreme deprivation and the visible emaciation of some who have been released. Israel has been astonished by their skeletal, pale, and haggard look. They appeared to be in worse shape than the majority of the 18 other captives released since Israel and Hamas agreed to a truce on January 19.

Released on February 1, Ofer Kalderon claimed to have been imprisoned in tunnels and detailed a life devoid of daylight and basic hygienic necessities. After being freed on January 19, Romi Gonen’s mother informed Reuters that her daughter had dropped almost 10 kg (22 pounds) and had not seen sunshine while in prison.

According to Meirav Leshem Gonen, “there was food, and they didn’t get food.”

Israel has denied claims that the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which was caused by its military onslaught following the Hamas-led invasion, is causing captives to go without food.

After an Israeli military operation in June 2024 that freed four captives but caused heavy Palestinian losses, conditions allegedly worsened. In retaliation, Islamic Jihad declared that hostages would be treated more harshly, while Hamas put additional prisoners into tunnels. With rights organizations recording abuse incidents on both sides, this escalation coincided with rising international concern about the treatment of Palestinian inmates and Israeli hostages.

A December Israeli Health Ministry investigation described systemic mistreatment, including torture, sexual assault, and medical negligence, despite Hamas’ claims to be preserving the welfare of its detainees. Ohel’s mother is left in agonizing doubt since his name is not on the list of 33 hostages set to be released during the first phase of the current truce.

“He is capable of surviving.” He is aware, yet this is incorrect. His mother sobbed as she remarked, “He doesn’t have enough time.” “He must survive and return home.” Bring him home, please.

With discussions continuing under a precarious ceasefire and the fate of the remaining detainees in jeopardy, the scenario highlights the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.