WATCH: Sign of life from hostage Rom Braslavksi

The Islamic Jihad released a sign of life today (Wednesday) from hostage Rom Braslavaki. The family requested that the video not be broadcast on media channels.

Rom Braslavski was taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7th at the Nova music festival. At the time of his abduction, Rom was 19 and working as a security guard at the festival. He displayed notable bravery by helping others escape the attack despite the danger. According to reports, he saved two young women and continued to assist others even after being wounded in both hands. He was last seen around 1:30 p.m. that day, helping a woman move from a garbage container to a safer location, after which he was captured by Hamas terrorists.

Rom comes from a modest, divorced family with two brothers, Amit (25) and Ziv (12). He shared a room with Ziv at his mother’s home and had been working since age 14 to help support the household. Described by his brother Amit as “fun and determined,” Rom loves music, plays the drums, and enjoys chocolate Oreos. He is also known for his adventurous spirit, unafraid to sleep outside or jump into the sea. However, posts on X note that Rom was abducted without his glasses, raising concerns about his ability to see while in captivity.

The first public sign of life from Rom came after 517 days in captivity, on March 6, 2025, when released hostage Sasha Trufanov, who had met Rom briefly during their time in Gaza, shared a video message. Trufanov, who was held by Islamic Jihad, expressed hope that his words would bring Rom “light and hope in the dark place” and affirmed that Rom’s family and all of Israel were working for his release. Rom’s father, Ofir, emphasized his son’s heroism, stating, “Rom was kidnapped while rescuing people from the massacre. He showed unimaginable bravery, risking his life to save others. Now, it’s our turn to save him.”

Rom remains one of the 59 hostages still held in Gaza. His family, supported by advocacy groups like the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, continues to push for his release, with Amit traveling to places like London to raise awareness.

The Headquarters for the Return of the Hostages issued a statement: “In any case of a video release concerning one of the hostages by Hamas/Islamic Jihad, the video or parts of it, including images, should not be published until the family’s approval is received.”

At the same time, the IDF briefed: “Military pressure is effective and will advance a hostage deal,” while acknowledging: “Discussions are being held to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to resume humanitarian aid.”