WATCH: The Last Call, the Terrorist’s Voice, and the Brother Who Won’t Stay Silent

“A Hamas Terrorist Answered My Brother’s Phone”: Uriel Baruch’s Brother Speaks Out in Emotional Interview

Roi Baruch, brother of Uriel Baruch—who was kidnapped by Hamas on Simchat Torah and is believed to have been murdered in captivity, shared his painful story in a moving interview with Yishai Cohen.

He recounted the last moments before Uriel disappeared, the crushing days of uncertainty, the harsh intelligence update confirming his likely murder, and the spiritual and emotional battle to bring home all the hostages and fallen.

“We Were Dancing with the Torah Scrolls”

Roi recalled the moments before the massacre began: “We were in synagogue, dancing with the Torah scrolls. Suddenly the sirens started. We went into the shelter and then came back out and continued dancing.”

Only when he got home did he learn that something terrible had happened. A neighbor showed him a Facebook post saying Uriel was missing. “She told me there were dozens of casualties down south. That’s when I realized something was wrong.”

Soon after, Uriel’s wife called in a panic. “We set up a war room at their home. Friends from the army tracked Uriel’s phone location.”

“There Are Terrorists Here – They’re Shooting at Cars!”

Roi described the chilling phone calls that morning. At 6:30 AM, Uriel and his friend Michael Yoav z”l were trying to flee the attacks. Michael called his wife twice. In the second call, she heard him scream, “Uriel, floor it! They’re shooting!” Then the line went dead.

Minutes later, Uriel’s wife tried calling him again. “A man answered in Arabic. A terrorist. He screamed ‘Allahu Akbar’ and hung up.” It was later confirmed he was a Hamas Nukhba commando. That was the last time anyone heard from Uriel.

“We Were Happy to Hear He Was Taken Hostage”

For three weeks, Uriel was listed as missing. “We lived in total uncertainty,” said Roi. “When we were told he had been taken to Gaza, we were actually relieved. We were happy—because it meant he was alive. Until then, all we knew was he was missing, and more bodies were being found every day.”

But six months later, Israeli intelligence informed the family that Uriel had been fatally wounded inside Israel and most likely died from his injuries in Gaza.

“I Want All 59 Hostages Back – In One Deal”

Roi has become a prominent voice in the fight to bring the hostages and their remains home. He’s active in both the Hostages Forum and the more religiously affiliated “Tikvah” Forum. “We’re one family,” he said. “All backgrounds, all types, all levels of observance. We’re united.”

His message is clear: “I want all 59 hostages back—in one deal. All their names. One agreement. That’s what I demand.”

And he calls for more pressure on Hamas: “Cut the electricity. Cut the water. Block the communications. Start annexing land. Impose a full siege. Start the Trump-style transfer plan. It’s the right move.”

“Haredi Jews Are Involved – Just in Their Own Way”

Roi addressed a widespread misconception. “People think the Haredi world isn’t involved. That’s wrong. They care deeply—but in their own way.”

He shared a powerful story about visiting Rav Baruch Dov Povarsky, head of the Ponovezh Yeshiva: “This 100-year-old giant of Torah saw the photos of the hostages—and wept. He asked to keep the photos in his bedroom. He removed his mattress and pillows, and since October 7, he’s been sleeping on the floor.”

“Mention the Hostages in Prayer – Every Day”

Roi ended with a plea to the religious world: “Please pray for the hostages. Mention their names in your prayers and Torah learning. My brother is Uriel Baruch ben Naomi. May he return home from Gaza, alive or dead. Don’t let this fall off the agenda. This is what we need from you.

Only Hashem can save us now. And salvation can come in the blink of an eye.”