Elkana Bohbot | |
|---|---|
 Bohbot, left, after his release in October 2025 | |
| Born | |
| Known for | His abduction to Gaza during the Nova festival massacre |
| Spouse | Rivka Bohbot |
Elkana Bohbot is an Israeli man who was abducted by Hamas on October 7th 2023 Supernova music festival. Bohbot was working as a logistics manager for the production company behind the Supernova music festival.
Elkana Bohbot, is a dual Israeli-Colombian citizen from Mevaseret Zion near Jerusalem. Prior to being kidnapped by Hamas, Bohbot worked for a production company that builds stages for large events. [1] Bohbot was a co-producer for the Supernova music festival, from which he was abducted by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. He has a wife, Rivka, and together they have a young son named Re’em. [2] [3]
Before his capture, Bohbot called to let his family know that he was helping wounded Nova Party attendees after gunfire erupted at the party in the early morning hours of the seventh of October. Bohbot's mother, Ruhama recalled that morning, telling Jewish News Syndicate she was at home with her daughter-in-law Rivka and grandson while her husband was at synagogue. When sirens started sounding and she turned on her television, disturbing reports started flashing across her screen, which was when she woke Rivka and said "it looked like war had begun."
At 7:50 a.m., Ruhama called her son. Bohbot answered and said he needed to stay at the festival grounds to help evacuate and that he would come home afterwards. After the initial phone call to Bohbot, Rivka Bohbot's wife also called where she warned him him about armed terrorists in pickup trucks disguised as soldiers. Bohbot assured her he was helping but promised to return home soon. At noon on the 7th, a friend of Bohbot's called the family to inform them that Elkana had been kidnapped and then sent a video confirming it. [2]
A Hamas video from October 7 which was posted online shortly after the attacks showed Bohbot, bound and injured in the face, being held by the armed group. This was the first video of Bohbot released by the terror group. In this initial video, Bohbot can be seen laying crumpled on the floor with his face bloodied and a look of fear across his face, along with hostages Evyatar David, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Almog Meir Jan and Bar Kupershtein, all also abducted from the Nova festival. [4] A month after his kidnapping, Colombian President Gustavo Petro gave Bohbot Colombian nationality. [3]
Hamas published multiple videos of Elkana Bohbot. All videos were filmed under duress. [5] In March of 2025 Hamas released it's second video of Bohbot begging for his life on camera. In the video Bohbot refers to himself as prisoner number 22 and begs to be released from captivity. [4] [6] In April, Elkana was filmed holding a fake telephone conversation with his wife, Rivka and their son, Re’em, and his mother and brother. In the staged video Bohbot pleads with his family on the fake phone call to help him get out of Gaza. [5]
In May of 2025 Hamas released another video featuring hostages Elkana Bohbot and Yosef-Chaim Ohana. In the video, Ohana, who was 24, at the time, is seen sitting beside a mattress where Bohbot, who was 36 at the time lies under a blanket. In the video Ohana refers to himself as “prisoner number 21" and Bohbot as "prisoner number 22." Throughout the broadcast, Ohana begs with the audience for their release and warns that Bohbot has tried to harm himself in captivity. [7] [1]
After the May video release, Bohbot's mother Ruhama Bohbot spoke to the press about her son's more than 580 days in captivity and stated that it's uncharacteristic of her son to break down. Stating in Jewish News Syndicate: “I haven’t stopped vomiting; we’re all broken,” she said. “These videos are not good … every one of them is another punch to the stomach. To me, it’s not a sign of life. It just shows how much danger he is in.” [2]
In his more than two years in captivity, Bohbot made a toy for his five-year-old son as a way to pass the time. Bohbot's family has also shared other details about his time in captivity, telling Israeli media that Bohbot did not receive food over the last few months before his release, and spent most of his time in Gaza chained in a tunnel, where he lost track of time and space. [8]
In the tunnels Bohbot's captors kept watch on Bohbot from about 300 yards away. Bohbot and the six other hostages he was held captive with was given rice with worms, moldy pita and sometimes nothing at all to eat. During the cease-fire in January of 2025, Hamas summoned the six men for an “execution” game. But the hostages refused to choose which three of their fellow companions would be killed so the terrorists chose randomly. [9]
After the second Hamas video released in February of 2025, Bohbot's family made the following statement:
“We are anxious and worried. How much longer can Elkana survive in the hell of Gaza? We are pleading with the people of Israel—listen to Elkana’s cry. Do not forget him. We must save him and our brothers in captivity. This is the second sign of life we have received this week. How many more will there be? Signs of life must not become final memories." [4]
In March of 2025, Bohbot's nephew, Menashe Harush, told Jewish News Syndicate that he had been living and sleeping in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square since Oct. 8, 2023, to raise awareness of Bohbot's plight at the hands of Palestinian terrorists. [6]
In May of 2025 Bohbot's mother once again spoke to the press after another video of Bohbot was released of her son suffering in Hamas captivity. In the interview Bohbot's mother expressed concern regarding the uncertainty surrounding how many of the remaining hostages in Gaza were in fact alive. [5] [10]
Elkana Bohbot was released from Hamas captivity on October 13th 2025. Rivka, Elkana Bohbot's wife called the event more emotional than her wedding day. In the post-relaese statement Rivka Bohbot, did not mention the Israeli government but thanked the Israeli nation, the Hostages Forum, the IDF and security forces, US President Donald Trump, envoy Steve Witkoff, and the US government for helping bring her husband homel. [11]
Rivka, the wife of Elkana Bohbot shared that her husband was adjusting well to his return to freedom, though had forgotten many of the house rules including putting down the toilet seat after use. Her updates on her husband's recovery have been a welcome addition of humor into a rather harrowing and disturbing story of two years in Hamas captivity. [12]
However other stories of his time in captivity are less easy to digest. Bohbot's mother says she does not know how her son survived. “He was bound, blindfolded, his hands and feet tied." Bohbot has told his mother about being in the back of a pickup truck with Evyatar David, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, and Bar Kupershtein. Bohbot was lying on top of them and was beaten brutally by Hamas in Gaza. [12]
In October of 2025 a video of Bohbot post release was released to the public speaking to well-wishers after his return home. [13]
