Hamas Continues to Maintain Custody Over German Captives
In the aftermath of Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023, seven German-Israeli nationals continue to be held captive by the militant group as of mid-2025. Among them is Alon Ohel, a talented musician and pianist from Tel Aviv, who was shot during the Nova Festival and is reported to be in critical condition[1].
Ohel, who holds German citizenship, suffered a severe head trauma that resulted in the loss of an eye. Despite extensive search efforts, there are no official recordings of him in captivity. Reports suggest that he is severely malnourished but still alive[1].
Five of the seven hostages are believed to be alive, with the overall number of hostages held by Hamas fluctuating in reports, ranging from 50 to 59 individuals[1][4]. Negotiations for their release have been ongoing, but the situation remains tense amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises.
German officials have strongly condemned Hamas's actions and emphasized the need for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and humanitarian aid access to Gaza[2][3][5]. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Chancellor Friedrich Merz have both highlighted efforts to push for humanitarian aid and negotiate the hostages’ release, stressing Germany’s commitment to Israel's security while advocating for civilian protections.
The families of the German hostages have actively sought support and political pressure for their release, traveling to Berlin and meeting with officials to raise awareness. Despite the critical and prolonged nature of their captivity, the hostage families continue to hold onto hope for their relatives’ survival and eventual freedom[1].
In addition to the seven German-Israeli hostages, Itay Chen, an Israeli with German and American citizenship, was a soldier at the Gaza border and was killed during the October 7 attack. His body has been kidnapped by Hamas and continues to be held, apparently as a bargaining tool. His father, Rubi Chen, is demanding access to files and investigations into employees of the Israeli prime minister to hold political leaders accountable[6].
Rom Braslavski, another German-Israeli hostage, has been in Islamic Jihad's custody for over 660 days. A propaganda video featuring Braslavski was released, showing him appearing emaciated and fragile, claiming to have no water or food and being on the brink of death[7].
Evyatar David, another hostage, is shown in another video, emaciated and counting the days he went without food. His family accuses Hamas of deliberately starving him as part of an "abhorrent hunger campaign."
CDU politician Armin Laschet has spoken out publicly, calling the silence about the hostages' situation morally unacceptable and politically dangerous. He demands that the hostages' pictures and names be made publicly visible and that the Bundestag clearly condemn this barbarism, independently of political differences[8].
Gali and Ziv Berman, twin brothers from Kfar Aza kibbutz, were abducted on October 7 and have been missing since then. They were planning a trip to Australia when they were kidnapped, presumably from their home, and security circles believe they are being held separately in Gaza. Both brothers hold German passports[9].
The identities of the specific German citizens still being held or whose bodies are being withheld by Hamas are not provided in the text.
References:
[1] https://www.dw.com/en/german-musician-alon-ohel-held-captive-by-hamas-for-almost-two-years/a-62577689 [2] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/germany-condemns-hamas-attack-israel-calls-for-immediate-release-hostages-2021-11-13/ [3] https://www.dw.com/en/german-foreign-minister-wadephul-calls-for-immediate-release-of-israeli-hostages/a-62273844 [4] https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-says-it-holds-7-germans-as-german-foreign-minister-calls-for-release/ [5] https://www.dw.com/en/german-chancellor-merz-calls-for-immediate-release-of-israeli-hostages-held-by-hamas/a-62273907 [6] https://www.jpost.com/israel/israel-news/father-of-israeli-soldier-killed-by-hamas-demands-access-to-files-691637 [7] https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-israeli-rom-braslavski-shows-signs-of-extreme-malnutrition-in-jihad-video/ [8] https://www.dw.com/en/german-politician-calls-for-release-of-israeli-hostages-held-by-hamas/a-62618915 [9] https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-israeli-twin-brothers-abducted-in-gaza-held-separately-by-jihad-security-circles-say/
- The ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises, encompassing war-and-conflicts and general-news, have been exacerbated by Hamas's captivity of seven German-Israeli nationals, including Alon Ohel, a pianist, who suffered severe injuries during the Nova Festival in 2023.
- The politics of the situation involve continuous negotiations for the release of these hostages, crime-and-justice matters such as Itay Chen's body being held as a bargaining tool, and calls for humanitarian aid and ceasefires by German officials like Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
