In an exclusive interview with the Presidential Palace in Belgrade, President Wu Zhi talked about Serbia-Israel relations, the Gaza War, the Expo of Serbia’s 2027 Expo and more.
Belgrade – Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić Jerusalem Post Last week, he personally called on Arab leaders to ensure the release of Israel-Serbian citizen Alon Ohel, who was kidnapped by Hamas in the October 7 massacre and held in Gaza for more than 600 days.
“I met his family several times,” Vučić said in an exclusive and extensive interview at the Presidential Palace in Belgrade. “I was so moved by the way they introduced the case of son and grandson when they were here. They were so proud and solemn. They did everything in a solemn, serious way and did everything they could to help.”
The young binational nation was attending the Rising Star Festival near Re’im, and was imprisoned for 600 days last week when Hamas terrorists rushed into Israel. His family revealed in April that they received information about the release of hostages, saying that Orr is now blind in one eye.
“Aron was injured. He couldn’t see one eye, and we knew his other could be saved,” said his father at the time Kobi Ohel at the time.
His mother Adidette said other grenades in Ohio were captured from the “death shelter” from “death shelter”, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, some of which suffered shrapnel wounds.
President Herzog and President of Serbia Avucic (Photo source: Haim Zach/GPO)
His mother said he was then physically abused and tortured, adding that he received “the shameful treatment of Hamas – a 19-year-old boy stitched him with needles and thread without painkillers.”
Vučić describes his quiet but determined behind-the-scenes efforts to gather information and plead for help.
“I asked some of my friends in the Middle East for help and we got some information that he is still alive,” Vučić shared. “Of course, you will never know. It’s very difficult to convey this type of information to the mother waiting for her son. But I said to her, ‘I can’t promise, but we have the message that he’s alive.’ Then we got the official message that he’s alive, he was injured and went through difficult times.”
The importance of international cooperation to Serbia and its connections with Arab countries
Vučić added that Serbia has done everything within its limited capacity, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in this context. “We will always do our best. He is our citizen, he is an Israeli citizen. He is just a young man with the right to live. We also have some friends, good friends in the Arab world, and I beg those people to help take care of that young man and release him as soon as possible. I’m really begging my friends.”
Vučić has established good ties with many Arab countries during his presidency, most notably the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Serbian leader reserved a special compliment for Ohel’s family. “His family is great – his grandparents. That was the first time I saw how Israelis and Jews took this burden on their shoulders. It wasn’t an easy meeting at all, but that’s what I saw. What can you see. What can you say to the mother who is waiting for her son, rather than disappointing their expectations?”
Reflecting on the situation of Ohel’s kidnapping, Vučić added: “These people are civilians. At the festival, listening to music – that’s their greatest sin.”
Vučić’s comments are among the growing warmer links between Serbia and Israel. Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Belgrade in September 2024, and earlier this year, Serbian Foreign Minister Markoéurić made an official visit to Israel, strengthening diplomatic cooperation between the two countries.
Complete interviews covering Serbia-Israel relations, the Gaza War, the 2027 Expo in Belgrade, and more will be released later this week later this week Jerusalem Post.
