Freed Hostage Alon Ohel gave a musical performance at the annual gala of the Friends of Rabin Medical Center together with his brother Ronen on Sunday.
The pair performed “Banu Le’kan” by artist David Broza, Ohel on piano, and his brother on guitar, harmonizing vocals together.
The event showcased the medical team that has been instrumental in supporting Ohel's recovery.
During the event, Alon expressed his feelings about performing, saying, “Playing and performing in front of an audience is a moment of joy for me and a crucial part of my rehabilitation."
"I want to thank everyone involved. Taking the stage tonight is my victory.” he said.
Ohel's injuries and traumatic ordeal
Ohel recently recounted his experience from the October 7 massacre and his time in captivity in an interview with N12 in early December.
Ohel shared intimate details of the threats, sexual harassment, and surgery without anesthesia that he endured while held by Hamas, and the injuries he sustained while he was abducted.
While attempting to escape the terrorist attack on the Nova music festival, Ohel hid with other Festival attendees in a bomb shelter.
As Hamas terrorists threw grenades into the shelter, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who would also be taken hostage and later murdered in captivity, attempted to throw the grenade back out to the terrorists to save those inside, but was unsuccessful. The grenade blew up next to Ohel, causing severe damage to his eye and taking off Goldberg's hand.
Ohel recounted he couldn't see after the explosion, and was in extreme pain when he was taken into Gaza.
"I screamed to them that I could not see, and they took off my clothes while trying to make sure people did not come in," he said, adding that they were taken to a house next to the hospital and were given anesthesia. "I woke up the next day, and could not breathe from the pain," he recalled.
His eye was treated in Gaza under Hamas supervision without anesthesia. Ohel described the event in his interview with N12 as degrading, saying Hamas forbade the hostages from screaming or speaking during treatment for their injuries.
Upon his return to Israel, Ohel received additional eye surgery and was treated at Rabin Medical Center.
"In Gaza they took away my rights of movement, freedom, and liberty, but not the right to choose to be a victor," Ohel said when reflecting on the ordeal.