Eli Sharabi, an Israeli hostage held captive by Hamas for 16 grueling months in Gaza, was released on February 8 alongside two other hostages, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami. His long-awaited freedom, however, was marred by unimaginable tragedy. Upon release, Sharabi, desperate to reunite with his family, discovered that his wife Lianne and daughters Noiya and Yahel had been brutally murdered at their home in the Be'eri kibbutz in Israel on October 7, 2023. The tragic news was delivered by a soldier from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), shattering Sharabi's hopes of a joyful reunion.
During his captivity, Sharabi faced severe hardships, including starvation, which he described as one of the most difficult aspects of his ordeal. Before his release, he was paraded in front of a crowd in Gaza City that included armed Hamas fighters, a spectacle he later described as psychological torture. Despite being gaunt and frail upon release, he expressed happiness at the prospect of returning to his family when handed over to the Red Cross.
“Don’t worry, I will be back. Whatever they do to me, I will be back.” – Eli Sharabi
Sharabi's physical condition was concerning to those who saw him post-release. His brother-in-law, Stephen Brisley, visited him in a hospital in Israel days after his release. Brisley recounted their emotional reunion, emphasizing Sharabi's fragile state.
“We just threw our arms around each other and hugged each other. I was scared to hug him too tight because he’s so skinny and emaciated. I was almost scared that I was going to break him if I hugged him too hard. But I hugged him, kissed him, told him I loved him.” – Stephen Brisley
Despite his physical frailty, Sharabi's mental resilience shone through. Brisley noted the change from when he first saw Sharabi at the handover to their reunion.
“Having seen how gaunt and pale he was at the handover and the darkness in his eyes, I was scared that the light was gone and that Eli wasn’t in there any more.” – Stephen Brisley
“But the most reassuring thing about being reunited with him is to see that Eli is very much still there. He’s incredibly mentally strong.” – Stephen Brisley
During captivity, Sharabi became a father figure to other hostages, particularly younger men. This role provided him with a sense of purpose and helped sustain him through the difficult times.
“We know that he was held with other hostages at various times … some of them were younger men, and Eli being Eli, he became a sort of father figure to them and tried to look after them. I think that gave him some purpose.” – Stephen Brisley
Sharabi's memories of his family were vivid; he often spoke fondly of their time together, recalling Christmases and their last holiday in Thailand. However, his joy was cruelly ripped away when he learned of their deaths. The final act of cruelty by Hamas was making him publicly thank his captors before his release.
“That was the final bit of psychological torture that Hamas visited upon him, to have him up on stage at the handover that was dripping in propaganda, to have him thanking his captors, to say: ‘I’m looking forward to seeing my family and being reunited with my wife and children.’” – Stephen Brisley