The family of hostage survivor Alon Ohel issued a statement to the media from Beilinson Hospital, where he was taken after his release from Hamas captivity. "Our Alon asked to convey a message," said his mother Idit, "In captivity, he saw how the people of Israel fought for him, how strangers fought for him, and that gave him strength to survive." She added that "this week, two years of prayers and hopes finally became reality. We were able to hug our Alon again. Shortly after our first meeting with him, Alon sat in his room and played the piano at Beilinson Hospital."