Israeli minister thanks Vucic, Djuric for efforts to release hostages

BELGRADE - On behalf of his government, Israeli Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi on Thursday thanked Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and FM Marko Djuric for their efforts to release hostages in Gaza, including Serbian pianist Alon Ohel.

"In these difficult days for my country, we are full of hope and prayers that our hostages will soon be returned safely to their homes. Alon Ohel, a 23-year-old Serbian pianist originally from Novi Sad, was brutally abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7 to Gaza. He is still there," Karhi said at a press conference in Belgrade.

"I want to express deep gratitude to the president of Serbia and the minister of foreign affairs for their efforts to release the hostages," he said.