Former Hostage Reveals Hamas Forced Mock Suicide Videos During Captivity

In a harrowing account of his time in Hamas captivity, freed hostage Elkana Bohbot has revealed disturbing details about psychological torture and propaganda tactics employed by the militant group. Speaking with Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot, Bohbot described how captors forced him and another hostage to participate in staged suicide scenes for propaganda purposes.

“They drew blood from our hands and beat us so that we would be injured, to simulate a suicide scene,” Bohbot recounted. The fabricated suicide video was reportedly never released, unlike other propaganda materials Hamas has disseminated throughout the two-year conflict in Gaza.

The psychological manipulation extended beyond physical abuse. “They told me that my mother had died and that my wife had left me,” Bohbot said. These claims proved to be false when he was finally released in October and reunited with his family.

Bohbot provided a chilling description of the October 7, 2022, attack on the Nova music festival, where he was abducted. “It was a hunting trip, a massacre,” he said. “Suddenly, 70 terrorists were all around us, passing by with weapons, breaking windows of vehicles, verifying their kills.” He described the attackers as “human animals, shooting dead people.”

The terror continued as he was transported into Gaza. Bohbot recalled fearing he would be lynched by crowds. “I talked to God. I said: Free me from this suffering, give me a bullet in the head, just don’t let them lynch me,” he said.

While in captivity, Bohbot and other hostages attempted to formulate an escape plan, but their hopes were dashed when they were forced into Hamas’ extensive tunnel system beneath Gaza. Life in the tunnels was particularly brutal, according to Bohbot. “In the tunnels, there is no difference between you and a dead person; both of you are buried without air, with the worms,” he explained. “The only difference is that your heart is beating. Besides that, you are a corpse.”

The psychological torment intensified as his captivity stretched on. “As hard as it was physically, it was even harder mentally,” Bohbot said. “The last six months were the hardest, since they starved us.” In a particularly cruel tactic, captors would force hostages to watch footage of Israeli soldiers being killed in combat whenever they requested food.

Bohbot’s testimony provides rare firsthand insight into Hamas’ treatment of the approximately 250 hostages captured during the October 7 attack. While dozens have been released or rescued in various deals and operations, many remain in captivity, with some feared dead.

The impact of prolonged captivity has left deep psychological scars that Bohbot continues to grapple with. “I live from hour to hour. I have no routine,” he said. Family reunification has presented its own challenges. “It has not been easy connecting with my son, Re’em, again, after he didn’t have a father figure for two years. It’s a process, and it will be a long one.”

Despite the trauma, Bohbot maintains hope for his future. His mother’s illness presents “another battle,” but he remains focused on rebuilding his life. “I want to bring Re’em a brother or sister, and for them to have a safe home here in Israel to sleep in. That’s all we want,” he said.

Bohbot’s account adds to growing documentation of hostage experiences, which international human rights organizations have described as potential war crimes. As ceasefire negotiations continue, the fate of remaining hostages remains a central issue in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.