Hamas Tried to Convert Israeli Hostage Rom Breslavski to Islam During Captivity, He Reveals

Rom Breslavski, an Israeli hostage survivor, spoke publicly for the first time about Hamas's efforts to convert him and other captives to Islam during their captivity. In an interview on Channel 14, Breslavski disclosed that Hamas repeatedly pressured him with religious arguments, trying to convince him to convert. He revealed a startling figure: approximately 60% of the Jewish hostages converted to Islam while in captivity, which Hamas treated as a game. Breslavski admitted he considered conversion but ultimately refused, stating, "God in heaven is watching you and knows everything. I will not play that game." Instead, he chose to challenge his captors on sensitive points.

Breslavski also described his personal religious transformation following the kidnapping. Raised in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Neve Yaakov but previously non-observant and against the religious current, he became fully religious after the October 7 attack. He recounted an encounter with a prominent Islamic sheikh from Islamic Jihad, who encouraged him to pray five times a day like Muslims. Breslavski declined, affirming the Jewish tradition of praying three times daily. Since then, he has maintained strict Sabbath observance and deepened his faith.

He expressed relief and happiness upon learning last week that one of his captors, Abu Yosef, who had severely abused him, was killed. Breslavski said, "As long as he was alive, he was in my mind. Now that he is gone, a weight has lifted, I sleep better and have my smile back." To celebrate, he shared sweets by the sea, marking the first time he felt a small measure of happiness since his ordeal.