Elkana Bohbot Speaks of Freedom After Captivity at Jerusalem Gathering with Boy George

Former Hamas hostage Elkana Bohbot told a gathering at the President's Residence in Jerusalem on November 2 that his captors had taken away his freedom but could not take away his spirit. Addressing British singer Boy George, Bohbot connected his return from Gaza to the music and shared life that had brought people to the Nova festival before the October 7 massacre.

A survivor speaks in his own voice

"Today, after 738 days in captivity, I stand here free," Bohbot said. His remarks were published by Israel's Foreign Ministry and reported by Israel National News. He thanked the singer for his friendship and for choosing to bring his music to Israel, describing the promise of dancing again as something inseparable from his own life.

Bohbot had been abducted from the Nova festival, where people had gathered to celebrate through music. In Jerusalem, he returned to that setting through his words: the place from which he was kidnapped also represented a community and a part of life he was reclaiming. His public statement centered on freedom, solidarity and the survival of that spirit.

The November 2 meeting in Jerusalem

President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog hosted the event during Boy George's visit to Israel. Sylvan Adams, president of the World Jewish Congress in Israel, also attended. The gathering recognized the British musician's support for Israel and Jewish communities after October 7, with Bohbot bringing the experience of captivity directly into the room.

Herzog spoke about hostility toward Israelis and Jews in cultural life and thanked the singer for taking a public position against it. Adams emphasized that Boy George, who is not Jewish, had chosen to join that effort. Their comments framed the event around personal choices to show solidarity, alongside the testimony of someone who had survived Hamas captivity.

Music and the community attacked at Nova

Boy George released "We Will Dance Again" during the summer, dedicating the song to the Nova community and those murdered at the festival. The performer, known internationally as Culture Club's lead singer, has visited and performed in Israel before. At the President's Residence, he described the personal changes that followed his public support.

He said some people now viewed him differently and that the experience had made him more aware of emotional challenges. For Bohbot, the song's message had a more direct connection to the place where his life was interrupted. His remarks moved the discussion from a musician's public stance to a survivor's determination to participate in ordinary life again.

A family milestone after his return

Bohbot's appearance followed another public milestone for his family. On August 28, Israel National News reported that he and his wife, Rivka, had welcomed a baby girl. The birth came less than a year after his return from 738 days in Hamas captivity. That earlier family development gives the Jerusalem remarks a concrete backdrop beyond the ceremonial setting.

The baby joined the couple's eldest son, Re'em. Bohbot shared a photograph with Rivka and their daughter accompanied by Psalm 100, a thanksgiving psalm. Rivka had announced the pregnancy in April. During his captivity, she and his mother, Ruhama, had campaigned for his release. The family's public milestones now include the everyday work of rebuilding a home together.

Remembrance through testimony in Jerusalem

During the same visit, Boy George toured the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem's exhibition "06:29 - From Darkness to Light," The Jerusalem Post reported. Museum chief executive Jonathan Riss and Adams led the tour, which was also attended by Sigal Mansouri, whose daughters Norelle and Roya were murdered at Nova.

The exhibition combines photographs, including work by Ziv Koren, with personal testimonies from more than 40 women. Its account of October 7 includes rescue, loss and solidarity. The visit connected the presidential gathering to another form of remembrance: hearing individual experiences and preserving the lives behind the events. Bohbot's words in Jerusalem belonged to that wider effort to keep survivors' voices present.

Recovery continues beyond the public appearances

Israel's Health Ministry describes a continuing care framework for captivity survivors, from hospital admission to treatment in the community. It includes a coordinating nurse from the survivor's health fund, access to mental health support and continued monitoring by the hospital team. Families can also receive assistance with medical needs and navigating available services.

The ministry says care should be adapted to each person's choices and pace, with support continuing after discharge from the hospital. Survivors can seek help through their coordinating nurse, hospital team or community services. At the November 2 gathering, Bohbot supplied his own measure of the change: he was standing in Jerusalem, free to speak, and able to thank those who had chosen to stand beside him.