Alon Ohel

Alon Ohel, a 22-year-old pianist and jazz enthusiast, was abducted during the Hamas terrorist attack on the Nova music festival on October 7.

Alon and his friends had arrived at the festival at approximately 5:30am, an hour before the Hamas attack began. When they attempted to escape in their car, they were forced to turn back due to gunmen firing from all directions. Seeking refuge, they ran to a bomb shelter. Alon's last communication with his family was a text message sent at 8:08 a.m. from the shelter. This shelter was the same location where a total of 30 civilians sought refuge and were subjected to well-documented horrors, including the terrorists throwing multiple grenades into the shelter and firing upon anyone who emerged.

Alon was seen being taken hostage by the terrorists, and his phone was left behind, later recovered by one of the survivors and brought to Soroka Hospital. The Israeli army later confirmed that Alon had been taken hostage and transferred to Gaza.

In the face of this ordeal, Alon's family turned to music, a passion shared by Alon. His brother Ronen reached out to Alon's farvorite jazz musician Avishai Cohen, and they recorded the song "Shuvi Elay" (Return to Me) together as a tribute to Alon. The family placed a yellow piano in Hostages Plaza in Tel Aviv, symbolizing hope for Alon's safe return. Visitors were encouraged to play the piano as a way of sending love and strength to Alon.