Hostage's Deep Bond With Officer Who Supported Family for Two Years
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Tamar Aviv supported Elkana Bohbot's family for 738 days during his captivity by Hamas. After Bohbot's release, he met Aviv for the first time and described her as becoming like a sister. The two discussed the deep bond formed during his captivity and his eventual reunion with his family, who he said motivated his survival.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Reserve Lt. Col. Tamar Aviv supported Elkana Bohbot's family for 738 days during his Hamas captivity.
- Bohbot met Aviv for the first time after his release, calling her his "sister."
- Aviv developed a deep emotional connection to Bohbot through his family.
- Bohbot cited family reunion as a key motivator for his survival in captivity.
- Bohbot maintained religious practices, including Shabbat Kiddush, during his captivity.
Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Tamar Aviv accompanied the family of Elkana Bohbot for two years while he was held captive by Hamas for 738 days. Though they never met during his captivity, Aviv learned intimate details about Bohbot, his habits, and his personal life, while providing support and updates to his parents, wife, and son, Ram.
Upon Bohbot's release, he initially didn't recognize Aviv amidst the crowd of military personnel. It was only on the helicopter ride home, after his mother introduced Aviv as the officer who had supported them for two years, that Bohbot understood her significance. He described the moment as realizing she had become like a sister to him.
Aviv explained that her role as a POW and MIA officer involved deeply understanding the captive's personality through conversations with family and friends, going beyond professional duty to develop emotional investment. She described the experience as a "rollercoaster" of hope and anxiety, with every piece of news about Bohbot bringing immense joy alongside deep fears for his fate.
Bohbot shared that the thought of reuniting with his family, especially his son Ram, was a primary motivator for his survival. He also maintained his religious practices, including daily prayers and Kiddush on Shabbat, as a way to preserve his identity and resist succumbing to his captors.
Aviv also recounted the profound impact of Bohbot's young son, Ram, who would ask about his father's return. A video sent by Bohbot's wife, Rivka, showing Ram caressing a picture of his father and pleading for his return, deeply affected Aviv. Bohbot's return after 738 days marked the first time he met Aviv, the woman who had become a crucial part of his family's life in his absence.
