BREAKING: Eli Sharabi, recently freed after 491 days in Hamas captivity, has recounted his unimaginable ordeal and the tragic loss of his wife and daughters. Speaking at the sold-out JNF NSW annual event, Sharabi revealed the harrowing details of his abduction from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, 2023.
Sharabi’s emotional promise to his daughters, Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13, “I’ll come back,” fueled his survival during the darkest times. In an interview with renowned journalist Nadav Eyal, he described his terrifying arrival in Gaza, where he was immediately attacked by a mob. “The minute they took me out from the car a mob of civilians took me away from them. They started to lynch me,” he recalled.
After being rescued from the mob by Hamas operatives, Sharabi and fellow hostage, Thai farmworker Kon, were subjected to brutal interrogation inside a mosque. “They tied us with ropes that tore our flesh,” he stated, revealing the unimaginable torture he endured over the subsequent days.
Held in captivity alongside Or Levy, Eliyah Cohen, and Alon Ohel—who remains missing—Sharabi described the severe starvation and psychological torment he faced. At one point, a captor falsely assured him that his family was safe, a lie that sustained him throughout his ordeal. “I was thankful I was never told otherwise, because my promise to return kept me alive,” he emphasized.
Upon his release, Sharabi faced the devastating news that his beloved wife Lianne and daughters had been murdered. “I asked the social worker to bring Noiya, Yahel and Lianne,” he expressed, heartbreakingly recounting the moment he understood the full extent of his loss. “There is nothing I can do to fill the hole in my heart,” he remarked, yet he is determined to honor their memory. “I remember Lianne, Noiya, Yahel every day until my last day, but it will be alongside my life, not instead of my life.”
The event also featured Hagit Yaso, a survivor of the October 7 attacks, who shared her near-death experience while on a morning run. Yaso managed to escape the assault by hiding and praying, a testament to the resilience of those affected by the conflict.
As the world watches, Sharabi’s story resonates deeply, highlighting the human impact of the ongoing violence. He expressed hope for the future, stating, “I’m sure I’m going to rebuild my life.”
For those wishing to support initiatives aiding victims, donations can be made to the JNF NSW annual campaign, *Together, We Rise With Israel*, at jnf.org.au.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as it unfolds.
