An ex- Israel captive who lost his British-Israeli family members were killed by militant assaults on 7 October says he is "very worried" that the latest ceasefire proposal aimed at stopping hostilities between Israeli forces versus the militant group will fall through
In a rare conversation, Eli Sharabi, emerging as one of the most high profile individuals taken after gunmen attacked Israeli territory in 2023, said the safety of the remaining 20 living captives were being put in danger by the ongoing Israel-Gaza war
He urged US president President Trump to "complete the mission" through utilizing his political power to guarantee those individuals and another 28 captives thought to have died get freed
He addressed his former captors, the organization, to sign the agreement on behalf of their community…and the entire region... Conflict is terrible and awful for all parties"
"We must maintain hope" that achieving an agreement, he added
The 20-point ceasefire proposal, agreed by Trump and Israel's Prime Minister, Netanyahu, proposes a prompt cessation of fighting along with freeing within 72 hours of every hostages, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans and Palestinian detainees held by Israel
Hamas officials have indicated they will reject it
Hamas continues to hold the remains of Mr Sharabi's brother Yossi, whom he is desperate to return home for proper funeral rites, in addition to his companion, 24-year-old Alon Ohel, who remained captive with him in underground passages deep beneath Gaza
Having spent nearly 500 days as a prisoner, the survivor learned only on the day of his freedom in February 2025 that his wife Lianne Sharabi, and children, 16-year-old Noiya along with thirteen-year-old Yahel Sharabi, were not alive - killed by gunfire following his capture
When they were not present to welcome him on his return home, he collapsed emotionally as he realised "the worst scenario had occurred"
About twelve hundred people within Israel lost their lives during October 7th when Hamas gunmen stormed through the boundary, whereas another 251 people became captives
With the second anniversary draws near, the former hostage has told about his experience and the factors driving him to rebuild his existence
Life in Captivity
In central Israel as the sun sets, Mr Sharabi positions himself gazing toward the peaceful sea waters
While inhaling the sea air, such freedom seemed far away earlier this year as he fought starvation, mistreatment and violence
During that October 7th daybreak, the family hid for hours in their safe room in Kibbutz Be'eri, a residential area with approximately 1,000 people close to the boundary with Gaza
Almost ten percent people in Kibbutz Be'eri were killed or taken hostage during that incident
When Hamas gunmen entered forcibly and gunfire erupted, he and Lianne, originally from the UK, threw themselves on their daughters
He states they informed the militants about his wife, their older daughter and Yahel all had British passports, yet they pulled him from their residence
"I realized this was when I've probably been kidnapped
So, I just turned my face towards my daughters and shouted 'I will return' - and that was the final moment I saw them"
Mr Sharabi, the kibbutz's former business manager, recounted how they initially transported him to a religious building within Gaza where he was attacked by local residents
"My eyes were blindfolded, but I could hear adults and youngsters who began to lynch me with their bare hands, and the kids' shoes striking me while I lay on the ground"
During nearly all of his captivity as a prisoner he states he was tied up - initially using cords to his wrists and ankles, later with iron chains
The discomfort made him to pass out
However, he mentions he was determined to stay alive, even when he had difficulty to breathe during one month after he says those holding him had beaten him and broken his chest bones
"It's frightening
It's humiliating when the freedom gets removed from you", he remembers
"You must request authorization for breathing, for speaking, to go to the toilet
You must plead for food, water, everything
But I promised my girls that I'd come back to their side, and they cherished living
"Therefore I declared, it doesn't matter what occurs
I'll be back to my family with hands or no hands, whatever my state
I really, really believed since the beginning I would endure this"
Underground Captivity
Mr Sharabi says they moved him inside the system of underground passages, where he describes passing many months alongside three fellow captives in confined, terrible circumstances with little sanitation or adequate nutrition
For the final six months he mentions they were given just a single meal a day typically consisting of only one and a half pieces of pita bread
"Starvation was the worst thing… you consume the tiny pieces from the floor", he explains
After he lost more than four stone of body mass, there was worldwide shock at the images showing his frail and emaciated state when he was finally released
He was told by his captors about his coming freedom a week before the event
They also mentioned his brother had been taken hostage and had died within Gaza, probably in military operations
As this freedom approached, he dreamed that he would move with Lianne, Noiya and younger daughter, to England, close to her family
When the day of release came, The group paraded him on stage in a televised ceremony, accompanied by many armed individuals
He says he was made to say during this event how much he anticipated reuniting with loved ones - but those watching were aware of facts he did not
The happiness of freedom quickly transformed into heartbreaking truth as he was welcomed back to Israel
"A support professional approached me and said: 'Your mother and sibling are waiting for you'
I responded 'I request my wife and children'
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