Eli Sharabi | |
|---|---|
אלי שרעבי | |
_(cropped).jpg) Eli Sharabi in June 2025 | |
| Born | (1972-02-13)13 February 1972 (age 53) Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Known for | His abduction toGaza during theOctober 7 massacre and his public activity after release |
| Spouse | Lian (deceased) |
| Children | 2 |
Eli (Eliyahu) Sharabi (born February 13, 1972) is a resident ofKibbutz Be'eri who wasabducted during theBe'eri massacre as part of theOctober 7, 2023 surprise attack on Israel byHamas militants. He was released on February 8, 2025 as part of the 2025 Hamas–Israel agreement, after 491 days in captivity. During the massacre, his wife Lian and their daughters Noya and Yahel were murdered. His brotherYossi was also kidnapped and later murdered after 100 days in captivity.
Sharabi was born inTel Aviv-Yafo to a family ofYeminite andMoroccan Jewish descent[1], and at age 14, he and his brother Yossi moved toKibbutz Be'eri as youth residents. He was educated there and held various management roles, including treasurer and economic coordinator. He has another brother, Sharon, and a sister, Osnat Matalon.[2][3]
In April 1995, Eli met Lian Brisley,[4] a 20-year-old British volunteer at the kibbutz. They married in July 2000 in a modest ceremony inBristol, and later had two daughters: Noya (born 2007) and Yahel (born 2010).[3]
On the morning of October 7, 2023, about 10 Hamas militants infiltrated the Sharabi family's home in Kibbutz Be'eri. According to testimonies, Eli and Lian decided not to resist. Lian attempted to state multiple times that she held aBritish passport in hopes of protection. Eli decided to cooperate with the militants, understanding he was to be taken hostage, and left with them hoping this would spare his family.[5]
Lian (48), Noya (16), and Yahel (13) were subsequently murdered in their home. That same day, Yossi Sharabi was also abducted and was later killed in captivity. AnIDF investigation found that Sharabi might have been killed in a building that collapsed following an Israeli airstrike on a different building adjacent to the one in which he was held.[6][7] The investigation also raised the possibility that Sharabi had been murdered by his captors.
Eli Sharabi survived 491 days in captivity. The first 52 days were spent in a safe house inGaza, where he was held inside the home of a Gazan family. after which he was transferred totunnels. He reported severe conditions including continuous hunger, suffocating air, terrible sanitation, beatings, and iron chains binding his legs the entire time.[8][9]
During his captivity, Sharabi was imprisoned with several other hostages at different times, includingOri Danino,Almog Sarusi, andHersh Goldberg-Polin, who were later murdered by Hamas in a tunnel. He spent most of his time with fellow hostageAlon Ohel.[10] With Or Levy and Alon Ohel, Sharabi taught English to fellow hostage Eliya Cohen using the only book they had, a novel byLeigh Bardugo.[11]
Sharabi said that Alon Ohel and Eliya Cohen were held in a tunnel, handcuffed and starved while their captors ate full meals in front of them. Sharabi supported Ohel and Cohen and was able to communicate with their captors in Arabic, which he speaks fluently; he also frequently spoke to Hamas members about their personal lives.[12][13][14]
On February 8, 2025, Sharabi was released along with Ohad Ben Ami and Or Levy in a hostage deal. During a filmed release message by Hamas, he was informed of his brother Yossi's death. Only upon arrival at the assembly point in Re'im and meeting his brother Sharon and mother Hannah was he told of his wife and daughters' murder. During captivity, Sharabi lost over 30 kilograms, returning to Israel weighing 44 kg.[9]
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After his release, Sharabi began physical and psychological rehabilitation.[15] Following a brief mourning period for his family, he began a public advocacy campaign for the remaining hostages and the return of bodies held by Hamas. He gave an interview toUvda sharing his experiences in captivity.[16] He traveled to the United States, met PresidentDonald Trump at theWhite House, and addressed theUnited Nations Security Council.[17][18][19][20]
In May 2025, he published the bookHostage through Sella Meir.[10] The book, the first of its kind, describes his captivity experiences. It sold over 20,000 copies within a week[21][22] and received "Gold Book" status in Israel.[23][24] It was published in the US on the second anniversary of the October 7 attacks by Harper Influence, an imprint ofHarperCollins.[25] The book reached the top-10 list of bestsellers of theNew York Times and theSunday Times by October 20, 2025.[26]