Families of Israeli hostages in Gaza rally support in Berlin

It has been 642 days since October 7, 2023, when Shachar Ohel's 24-year-old nephew, Alon Ohel, was gravely injured at the Supernova music festival in southern Israel by Hamas-aligned militants and taken to Gaza. Since then, the family's thoughts and emotions have revolved around whether Alon is still alive and how he can be freed from captivity.

"We still have hope," Shachar Ohel told DW.

Hostages held with Alon were released by Hamas five months ago and have told him about his nephew's condition.

Shachar Ohel is deeply concerned about his kidnapped nephew in GazaImage: Malte Reinhold/DW

"They have been together with him for the whole period of time," Shachar Ohel said. "We know that he is in a very bad condition. He lost his sight in the right eye. There is a real danger for the other eye. He does not get any food. He is starving. He is in a critical condition… We hope he is surviving, because they [Hamas] want him to be alive. Because (otherwise) they have nothing to deal with Israel."

24 hostages still believed to be alive

Alon Ohel is one of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas — a Palestinian Islamist group based in the Gaza strip — during its October 7 attack on Israel. After several rounds of negotiations, 146 hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. 83 Hamas hostages have died in captivity, yet Hamas still has not handed over the remains of 35 individuals. 24 hostages are believed to still be alive — with the Bring them Home hostages and missing families forum demanding their immediate release.

Relatives and friends of hostages holding joint Israeli and German citizenship have come to Berlin, calling for greater German involvement. Five of the captives are believed to still be alive, two are reported dead.

The relatives of Gaza hostages urged German decision-makers to do more to secure their releaseImage: Bernd Riegert/DW

In Berlin, the group is appealing to German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and others to provide more support. "We have received a lot of sympathy and hugs," says Liran Berman who has two brothers being held captive by Hamas. "But now it's time to act and apply more pressure." Liran Berman and the other relatives are pinning all their hopes on the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel, the US, and Hamas.

Germany should do more

"We are in the middle of a crisis that we have never had in history. It is on governments, and I believe in diplomacy, to get to a deal," Efrat Machikawa told DW. Five of her relatives were held captive by Hamas at various stages, with four eventually released. A fifth relative was murdered. Efrat is working with other relatives who have come to Berlin to secure the release of the German-Israeli hostages.

This does not only involve those sitting at the negotiating table, she said, but also other countries, including Germany, "that have a relationship with those around the table, this is why international community involvement in so important." All Germans should be concerned about this, she said, adding that freeing the hostages is the first step toward improving the terrible situation in the Middle East.

Efrat Machikawa says Germany should do more to help get the hostages homeImage: Malte Reinhold/DW

Yellow piano in tribute

Alon Ohel's parents placed a yellow piano in central Tel Aviv in memory of their son, a pianist and jazz lover. Anyone can play it in tribute to Alon. The yellow piano was even brought to Berlin for a solidarity concert.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked several Israeli villages and the Supernova music festival near the Gaza Strip, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, the Israeli army began fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to various unverifiable reports, between 50,000 and 80,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then. Large parts of the Gaza Strip have been destroyed. The humanitarian situation in the territory is catastrophic, according to the UN.

Hamas is a militant, Palestinian Islamist group based in Gaza. The European Union, US, Germany, and other countries classify it as a terrorist organization.

This article was translated from German