Former hostage Elkana Bohbot recalls how faith, family helped him survive Hamas captivity

Former Hamas hostage Elkana Bohbot spoke to an IDF podcast about how his desire to reunite with his wife and son, combined with his religious faith, enabled him to survive captivity in Gaza. He told Lt.-Col. (res.) Tamar Aviv, the officer who supported his family throughout his two-year ordeal, that his primary motivation was the belief he would see his family again.

Bohbot vowed not to give Hamas the satisfaction of seeing him lose hope, stating he would "do everything I can to come back and show them what resilience and renewal really mean."

Bohbot maintained his religious practices during captivity, praying each morning for survival and reciting Kiddush on Friday night and Saturday. Even when the terrorist was nearby, he quietly recited his prayers to preserve his identity. Upon his return, Bohbot was overwhelmed by the sight of his family, with his mother introducing him to Tamar, the officer who had supported his family.

Aviv, who had come to know Bohbot through conversations with relatives and friends, described her emotional response to meeting him in person.

Aviv, who had been supporting Bohbot's entire extended family, recounted the challenges of maintaining contact and managing everyday needs. One of the greatest challenges was supporting Bohbot's young son, Re em, who was growing up without his father. Aviv described the emotional difficulty of not knowing whether Bohbot would return. She also spoke about shielding Re em from the full reality of captivity, saying she had to "bend the truth" when answering his questions.