Alon Ohel: A Pianist's Ordeal in Hamas Captivity

Alon Ohel, a 24-year-old Israeli pianist and jazz student, has been held hostage by Hamas since October 7, 2023. His abduction during the Nova Music Festival near Kibbutz Re’im marked the beginning of a harrowing ordeal that continues to this day.

🎶 A Life Interrupted

Alon, the eldest of three siblings, had recently returned from travels in Asia and was preparing to study at the Rimon School of Music in Tel Aviv. His passion for music was evident; he often left his piano open at home, ready for spontaneous melodies. On the morning of October 7, he attended the Nova Music Festival, a celebration that turned tragic when Hamas launched a surprise attack. Seeking shelter with friends, Alon was captured from a roadside bomb shelter—a location that became infamously known as the "bunker of death" due to the massacre that occurred there.

⛓️ Captivity and Suffering

For months, Alon's fate remained unknown. In February 2025, hope emerged when released hostages reported that Alon was alive but in dire condition. He was being held in Hamas tunnels, chained, severely malnourished, and suffering from untreated shrapnel injuries, including to his eye, which has left him nearly blind.

His mother, Idit Ohel, has been a vocal advocate for his release, sharing the anguish of not knowing her son's condition and pleading for international intervention. 

🎹 Advocacy Through Music

To raise awareness and keep Alon's story alive, his family initiated the "Yellow Piano" campaign. They placed yellow pianos in public spaces across cities like Tel Aviv, New York, Paris, and Berlin, inviting passersby to play and remember the hostages. In February 2025, a concert was held near Philadelphia, featuring some of Alon's favorite pieces, including Debussy's "Clair de Lune" and Haydn's "Piano Sonata No. 37." New York Post

Additionally, the family collaborated with musician John Ondrasik of "Five for Fighting" to release a new version of the song "Superman," dedicated to Alon and other hostages.

📣 Ongoing Efforts and Pleas

As of May 12, 2025, Alon remains in captivity. His family continues to advocate for his release, criticizing international negotiations that have secured the freedom of some hostages while leaving others, like Alon, behind. 

The Ohel family's relentless efforts underscore the human cost of geopolitical conflicts and the enduring hope for Alon's safe return.

For more information and ways to support the Ohel family's efforts, please visit the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. https://stories.bringthemhomenow.net/