Freed hostage Elkana Bohbot details Hamas psychological torture

Elkana Bohbot: ’I’ve never experienced abuse like that in my life.’

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Former hostage Elkana Bohbot said Hamas captors subjected him and other Israelis held in Gaza to psychological abuse that began with apparent kind treatment followed by extreme cruelty.

Bohbot, one of the producers of the Nova Music Festival, spoke about the experience during an interview on the podcast “Voice of Nova” after spending 738 days in Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip.

He said he was being held alongside two other hostages, identified as Ohad and Bar, when a captor unexpectedly brought them a tray of lamb shank and rice.

“One day we had this meal he prepared for us,” Bohbot said. “They brought us lamb shank – it’s called mandi. It’s the richest meal in Gaza.”

According to Bohbot, the hostages were surprised by the meal because it was served during the middle of the day while they were underground.

“Suddenly, in the middle of the day, he brings you a tray with lamb shank and rice,” he said. “They cook it underground, and it’s delicious, rich – a very rich Arab dish – and he gives it to us.”

Bohbot said the hostages quickly ate the food because they worried the captor might take it away.

After finishing the meal, Bohbot recalled telling the captor: “Listen, this is very honorable, this is food with a lot of respect.”

He said the captor then responded: “Come, come, I’ll show you what respect is. I’ll show you why you ate this.”

According to Bohbot, the terrorist then played footage showing Israeli combat engineers being killed in a bombing involving an explosive device.

“Today we killed thirty of your soldiers – bon appétit,” the captor told them, Bohbot said.

Bohbot described the moment as one of the most severe forms of abuse he experienced during captivity.

“He shows you the video, and you throw everything up,” he said. “I’ve never experienced abuse like that in my life.”