Former Hostage Eli Sharabi Reflects on Trauma and Moving Forward

Eli Sharabi, a former hostage who endured more than a year of captivity in a Gaza tunnel, is focusing on rebuilding his life after a harrowing experience. The 53-year-old Israeli was abducted during a Hamas attack on his home in Kibbutz Beeri on October 7, 2023. During that attack, he lost his wife and two daughters, and his brother, Yossi Sharabi, was also taken by the militants.

Reflecting on his ordeal, Sharabi stated, “It’s impossible to forget even a single moment of my captivity. But it does not define who I am.” His journey of healing includes confronting the profound grief of losing his family while striving to embrace life moving forward.

Tragedy and Resilience

During his captivity, Sharabi faced extreme conditions, losing 30 kilograms and enduring hunger, darkness, and deprivation. Despite these hardships, he found solace in conversations with fellow hostages, including Alon Ohel, with whom he spent 14 months. Sharabi emphasized the importance of mutual support: “We helped each other stay human,” he said.

The recent return of his brother’s remains under a truce brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump marked a bittersweet moment for the Sharabi family. “The extended Sharabi family has been waiting for this for two years,” he remarked. “We needed closure. It’s important to us. But it’s clearly a very sad ending.”

Sharabi’s emotional journey is encapsulated in his memoir, “Hostage,” which details his last moments with his daughters before his abduction. He recalls promising them, “I will come back. I promise.” This vow fueled his will to survive until his release during a ceasefire earlier this year, which ultimately collapsed.

Advocacy and Future Aspirations

In a powerful address to the United Nations Security Council shortly after his release, Sharabi urged global leaders to reflect on their roles during his ordeal, asking, “Where was the United Nations? Where was the Red Cross? Where was the world?” He views his book as a historical record, stating, “This book had to be written. It’s a historical document for future generations.”

“Hostage” has quickly become a bestseller in Israel, selling over 100,000 copies and is available in Hebrew, English, and French, with hopes for additional translations. Despite the popularity of his memoir, Sharabi has no intention of returning to Kibbutz Beeri, which witnessed one of the deadliest massacres during the Hamas attack, where over 100 civilians were killed.

When reflecting on his captors, Sharabi expressed a desire for healing, stating, “It will take two generations to bring some sanity in them, and they need a sane leadership. Otherwise, it’s the same.”

Looking ahead, Sharabi dreams of a quieter life, one filled with normalcy and surrounded by friends and family. “I want an anonymous, ordinary life, to start the morning with a walk by the sea… to have a normal life,” he said, a faint smile crossing his face. His journey from trauma to resilience serves as a poignant reminder of the human capacity to endure and seek hope even in the darkest of times.