Eli Sharabi, freed after 490 days in Hamas captivity, was shaken to discover his wife, two daughters, and brother were murdered on October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel. Prior to his release, Sharabi declared his happiness with the statement: “I am very happy today to return to my wife and daughters.”
His family members welcomed him home, but with mixed feelings; his parents-in-law especially put faith in his return.
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Lianne Sharabi, Eli’s wife, and daughters, Noiya and Yahel, and Eli’s brother Yossi were the other victims of the attacked coup.
Gillian and Pete Brisley, Eli’s in-laws, watched the release with hope but horror at the sight of frail Eli. Gillian was holding a teddy bear that her daughter Lianne once cherished; she said, “We cried for our loss. we cried for Yossi.”
The tragic scene took place after Hamas released three Israeli hostages, which include Sharabi, Ohad Ben Ami, and Or Levy. The men seem very weak and gaunt, and the Israelis were shocked by their condition. The hostages were part of a ceasefire deal where Israel was to free the Palestinian prisoners first. After the hostages were handed over to Israeli forces, they were reunited with their families and flown to hospitals for treatment. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the shocking condition of the freed hostages.
