Former hostage says 738 days in captivity ended with a dance

Former Gaza hostage Elkana Bohbot stood in the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Monday and declared that he would dance again. He had spent 738 days in captivity since being kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. Bohbot told international singer Boy George that the phrase is not just a song title but life itself.

The meeting marked the latest stop on Boy George’s trip to Israel. He met with President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog at the presidential residence. Sylvan Adams, president of World Jewish Congress Israel, also attended the event. Adams organized the visit and hosted the singer during his stay.

President Herzog thanked Boy George for his public support of the Jewish people. The president noted that discrimination against Israelis has increased in the worlds of culture, art, and music since October 7. Herzog quoted the singer’s statement that he stands with the Jews and behaves like a human. The president said that message of moral clarity touched the hearts of Jews and Israelis everywhere.

Boy George responded by saying his song 'We Will Dance Again' forced him to grow up. He stated that the old version of himself no longer exists because people now see him in a new way. The singer said the experience made him more aware of the emotional challenges facing society.

Adams told Boy George that the Jewish people face an organized wall of hatred. He said that while Jews must fight back when attacked, Boy George chose to engage in a moral campaign against haters. Adams expressed eternal gratitude for the singer's support and encouraged him to keep singing and visiting Israel.

Before the presidential meeting, Boy George toured the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem. He viewed the exhibition '06:29 - From Darkness to Light,' which documents the events of October 7. The tour was led by museum CEO Jonathan Riss and Adams. Sigal Mansouri, whose daughters were murdered at the Nova festival, also joined the group. The exhibition features photographs and personal testimonies from more than 40 women.

Boy George said the exhibition presented otherworldly events in a simple way that preserved a sense of humanity. He noted that people often lack time for real substance but have time for gossip. Riss stated that the museum serves as a platform for hostages and their families to share their voices. The visit was coordinated with Live Nation Israel representatives Guy Besser and Shay Mor Yosef, with participation from the Foreign Ministry. Boy George’s second performance in Israel is scheduled for November 7 and will be dedicated to the Nova community.