In an emotional and heart-wrenching video released by Hamas, Israeli captive Elkana Buchbut can be seen crying and pleading for his release after being held for months. The distressing footage shows him begging Israeli authorities and the workers' union to intervene and secure his freedom, as he faces unimaginable psychological torment.
"For the second time, I am prisoner number 22," Elkana says, visibly shaking with emotion. "I want to tell you, Prime Minister, I asked to make these videos. Hamas did not tell me to make these videos. This is not a psychological war. My real psychological war is me with myself, that I wake up every morning without my son! Without my wife! I tell you, it scratches me, it makes me feel bad, don't you understand?! I want to get out of here! I'm turning to you, this is the Workers' Federation. I'm suffocating! I want to get out! Please, help me."
As he pleads for help, Elkana’s emotions run deep. “I miss my wife, my son, everyone, my family. Get me out of here. I've been working for 15 years, 15 years under the framework of the workers' committee. I didn’t ask for anything, nothing,” he continues, his voice breaking. "Where are my rights? The Histadrut, where are my rights? I’ve been working under your framework for 15 years. Where are my rights? Don’t I deserve it either?"
“A Five-Year-Old Boy Can’t Say Dad”
A deep concern for his family drives Elkana’s plea. He passionately speaks about his son, who is about to celebrate his fifth birthday. “Why is my wife alone, why can’t my son say dad? Why? What will you tell him?” he asks. "A five-year-old boy is about to celebrate his birthday. He can't say dad, why? Please, get me out of here, please.”
His anguish is echoed by his family, who, in a statement following the release of the video, expressed their fears for his survival. “We are anxious and worried. How much longer can Elkana survive in the hell in Gaza? We are asking the public in Israel in every possible way – listen to Elkana’s scream. Do not forget him. We must save him and our captive brothers.”
Elkana’s Brother: “He Knows He Can’t Do Anything”
After seeing the first video earlier this week, Elkana's brother, Yaakov Buhbot, spoke with a heavy heart. He explained the emotional toll of seeing his brother in such distress: “It was very moving to see him, but as soon as the excitement of seeing him after not having seen or heard him, the flesh of your flesh – suddenly you notice things. It's not really what you know, it's not the person you know, not the body movements you know, not the look, not the facial expressions. His body language is the language, but the text is not his.”
Yaakov also expressed the harsh reality that his brother is suffering, aware that his family and society need to unite to bring him home. "He is angry, going crazy inside. He knows there is nothing he can do, the ones who need to help him get out of there are us – we in the family, we society, we government – we all need to join hands to get him out of there."
Ongoing Struggles and Desperation
This is the second sign of life from Elkana in a week, as Hamas also released a video last Monday featuring him alongside fellow captive Yosef Haim Ohana. In the previous video, Elkana shared the severe hardship he is facing. "Until yesterday, I had a name, and I had an identity, and I had hope. Today I am just another number," Elkana said.
He addressed the conditions of captivity, sharing the daily torment of being separated from his family and the constant fear of death. “Every day here is hard for me, without my son and without my wife, tell them how much I suffer,” he said.
Yosef Ohana, in the same video, also pleaded for attention to their plight, stating, "We asked and begged to make our voice heard. So please, listen to it. We saw death before our eyes. And right now, after the attack, when the crossings are closed, everything is going back to normal. The food is about to run out, the conditions are starting to get difficult, and we have no safe place to be.”
A Call for Action
As the days drag on in captivity, Elkana’s family continues to call for action and awareness. His wife and son await his return, and his family urges the Israeli public not to forget his suffering and that of others held captive.
"Elkana, if you hear – we will not stop fighting until you return home to us," they declared.
Elkana’s plight highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis faced by hostages in Gaza and the desperate need for action from both local authorities and the international community to secure their release.
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