Herzliya, Israel, October 6 (AP) - Eli Sharabi endured 16 harrowing months in squalid tunnels beneath Gaza, his legs shackled, subsisting on stale pita bread. Now, two years since the Hamas attack that ignited the Gaza war, he worries incessantly about a fellow captive, whom he came to regard as an adopted son, enduring possibly even greater hardships.
As Israel observes another somber war anniversary this Tuesday, it continues its campaign across the region, having devastated Gaza, yet 48 hostages from the initial attack remain unrecovered. Approximately 20 of them are believed to still be alive. A new peace initiative backed by the United States raises hopes for their return.
Sharabi, 53, gained his freedom in February, only to be confronted with unfathomable loss: his wife and two teenage daughters had been murdered in their Kibbutz Be'eri home by Hamas militants on October 7, 2023. True closure, Sharabi believes, hinges on the return of every last hostage, including his companion in captivity, Alon Ohel, and the remains of his elder brother, Yossi.
In his memoir, "Hostage," released in Hebrew this year and launching in English on October 7, Sharabi recounts the stark realities of his confinement, where he was largely kept in dark, insect- and rat-infested tunnels. Basic hygiene was a rare reprieve, and an irate guard once pummeled him, fracturing several ribs.
Transfers between tunnels afforded their only exposure outside, passing through streets littered with debris. "The starvation was undeniably the toughest aspect," Sharabi disclosed in an interview with Associated Press. "The extent of hunger is beyond normal comprehension." As the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorated, their meals dwindled from two a day to one, primarily moldy pita. Meanwhile, their captors reveled in plentiful aid supplies, originally destined for civilians.
Upon his release, Sharabi's weight had plummeted to 44 kilograms (97 pounds). Donald Trump remarked that Sharabi and the other two freed hostages resembled Holocaust survivors.
The October 7 attack by Hamas-led forces was catastrophic, claiming 1,200 lives and resulting in the abduction of 251 people. While most hostages have since been freed through ceasefires or agreements, Israel's aggressive response has resulted in over 67,000 deaths in Gaza, left vast regions in ruins, displaced nearly 90% of its two million residents, and prompted a humanitarian disaster with famine in Gaza City.
Sharabi's final image of his family was marred by their terror-stricken faces as he was seized from their home. During captivity, hopeful thoughts of moving his family far away, perhaps to England, his wife's homeland, occupied his mind. Yet, he has only revisited their kibbutz sparingly, unable to confront the interior's grim reminders.
The Kibbutz Be'eri faced unparalleled devastation in the October 7 event, with 106 residents slain and 30 kidnapped. Amidst the chaos, homes were ravaged, some by the Israeli military.
Initially confined with a Thai agricultural worker whose ability to communicate was restricted, Sharabi was later relocated beneath ground with three other Israelis kidnapped from a music festival after a short-lived ceasefire ended in November 2023. As the eldest, Sharabi adopted a nurturing role, devising exercises to alleviate their chained immobility and encouraging daily communal reflection on even minor positives, like slight food increases or fewer abusive guards.
Though none were religious pre-captivity, shared prayers became an anchor, with Friday night Sabbath blessings over water often inducing tears. "The persistent threat of death imparted urgency to finding moments of light," he reflected. "Survival is crafted from countless small victories."
Sharabi's post-release advocacy, driven by concerns for Alon Ohel, a 24-year-old still held amidst Israel's renewed offensive, sees him champion their cause through his book, meetings with Trump, and addressing the UN Security Council. When a promised release during a January ceasefire failed to include Ohel, the young musician suffered a severe panic attack, transforming what should have been a joyous announcement into a heart-wrenching ordeal for Sharabi.
Their subsequent separation marked one of Sharabi's most anguished captivity days. A recent video depicts Ohel, emaciated and lacking vitality, rekindling Sharabi's determination to mobilize efforts urging leadership to end the conflict and facilitate the hostages' return.
His conviction and message to Ohel remain steadfast: "Your loved ones fight fiercely for your freedom. Take heart in your strength, hold on, and know you will rejoin us. Everything we pledged to one another will come to pass." (AP)
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