Freed by Hamas After 490 Days, Eli Sharabi Returns Home to a Heartbreaking Tragedy

Jerusalem. An Israeli hostage has been released by Hamas after keeping him captive for 490 days. But the man was hit by a mountain of sorrow when he came to know the reality of his home. Hamas had killed the wife, 2 daughters, and brother of that 52-year-old Israeli Eli Sharabi in its attack. Eli Sharabi was one of the three hostages who were released in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners kept in Israeli jails under the ceasefire in Gaza.

His release brought a wave of happiness among the people present in Tel Aviv. But Eli Sharabi's happiness lasted only for a short time because his return gave him very deep pain. While the hostage was celebrating his release and was desperate to meet his family, it was only after returning home that he was told that his wife, two daughters, and his brother were killed on October 7, the day Hamas attacked Israel. While before his release, Eli Sharabi was heard saying, 'I am very happy to return to my wife and daughters today.'

Hamas wiped out the family.

When Eli Sharabi's in-laws Gillian Brisley and her husband Pete saw him released from captivity on Saturday morning, he hugged a teddy bear to his chest. It reminds the family of all the suffering they have suffered since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing their daughter Lian Sharabi and teenage granddaughters, Noia and Yahel, while son-in-law Eli Sharabi was taken hostage. Eli's brother Yossi was also killed.

Released hostage very weak

The moment was bittersweet for Eli Sharabi's family. They were thrilled he was finally free, but they were horrified by the pale, frail figure they saw on TV. It was not the dark, strong man they last saw 18 months ago. The sparkle that always shone in his eyes had vanished. "He looked like he had been to Belsen," Pete Brisley said, referring to the World War II concentration camp. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the situation of the frail hostages was shocking and would be looked into.