Editorial Note: The accompanying image is AI-generated for illustrative purposes. It is not an authentic photograph of Eli Sharabi or any person involved in the events described.
KEY POINTS:
- Eli Sharabi endured 491 days of Hamas captivity, discovering upon release that his family had been murdered
- According to CBS News, Sharabi was held 50 meters underground and lost 66 pounds during captivity
- Hamas agreed Friday to release all remaining hostages under parts of Trump’s peace proposal, per NPR
Eli Sharabi, who spent 491 days as a Hamas hostage, has detailed the torture and starvation he endured while being held in Gaza tunnels, according to CBS News on September 29, 2025. Meanwhile, Hamas responded on Friday to President Donald Trump’s peace proposal, agreeing to release all remaining hostages as the Gaza conflict approaches a critical juncture, NPR reported on October 3, 2025.
The October 7 Abduction
According to CBS News, Sharabi was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri. CBS News reported that Sharabi understood Arabic and told his daughters “I’ll come back” as he was being taken. The Times of Israel reported on February 8, 2025, that his British-born wife Lianne and daughters Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13, were murdered in their home’s safe room while Sharabi and his brother Yossi were taken captive.
CBS News documented that 250 others were taken hostage that day when Hamas terrorists overran Kibbutz Be’eri, killing 101 of its residents.
Life in Captivity
According to CBS News, Sharabi spent his first 52 days in a private home before being moved to tunnels 50 meters underground. CBS News reported in its September 29 interview that Sharabi described being held with chains on his legs “24/7” with steps limited to three inches.
“For a year and four months my legs were shackled with chains with very, very heavy locks that cut into your flesh,” Sharabi told Channel 12, as reported by France 24 on February 28, 2025. The Times of Israel reported on February 28 that Sharabi described extreme hunger, with the men receiving sometimes only “a quarter of a pita” per day, which they would eat over 10-15 minutes “crumb by crumb.”
CBS News reported that Sharabi’s captors broke his ribs during beatings, leaving him unable to breathe properly for two to three months. The Times of Israel cited Sharabi’s Channel 12 interview saying abuse worsened when Hamas captors perceived Israel was worsening conditions for Palestinian prisoners.
Bonds Formed in Darkness
According to CBS News, Sharabi was held with American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was later murdered by Hamas. CBS News reported that Goldberg-Polin often repeated the quote “He who has a why to live, can bear any how,” which gave Sharabi strength.
The Times of Israel reported on February 28 that Sharabi developed a particularly close relationship with 24-year-old Alon Ohel, who remains in captivity. According to The Times of Israel, when Sharabi was released on February 8, 2025, Ohel grabbed him and refused to let go until guards tore him away, with Sharabi recalling “moments of hysteria.”
The Devastating Homecoming
CBS News reported that when Sharabi was released on February 8, 2025, he weighed 44 kilograms – less than his youngest daughter’s body weight. The Times of Israel reported on February 8 that Sharabi only learned upon his return to Israel that his wife and daughters had been murdered, after initially asking to see them when told his mother and sister were waiting.
According to CBS News, Sharabi said in their September 29 interview: “I choose life. I need to be strong for them. I don’t have the privilege to break.”
Global Advocacy Campaign
The Times of Israel reported on March 2, 2025, that Sharabi met with President Trump at the White House after the president viewed portions of his testimony about captivity. The Times of Israel reported on March 17 that Sharabi also met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street as part of a global campaign advocating for remaining hostages.
The Times of Israel reported on March 20 that Sharabi addressed the UN Security Council, asking “Where was the world?” and stating that Hamas terrorists ate UN aid in front of starving hostages.
Hamas Responds to Trump’s Ultimatum
NPR reported on October 3, 2025, that Hamas agreed Friday to release all remaining hostages according to President Trump’s proposal after the president warned of consequences if they didn’t respond by Sunday at 6 p.m. ET. According to NPR, Hamas stated it would “release all Israeli prisoners, both living and dead, according to the exchange formula contained in President Trump’s proposal.”
NBC News reported on October 3 that Trump unveiled a 20-point peace proposal calling for Hamas to release all 48 hostages within 72 hours. According to NPR, about 20 hostages are believed to still be alive.
Fox News reported on October 3 that Hamas agreed to hand over administration of Gaza to “a Palestinian body of independents” but did not address the disarmament requirement in Trump’s proposal. NPR reported that some elements of the proposal “require further consultations among Palestinians.”
Israel’s Response
CBS News reported on October 4 that an Israeli political source said the cessation of IDF activity in Gaza is intended to allow Hamas to begin organizing for hostage release. According to NPR, Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday calling for Israel to “immediately stop the bombing of Gaza” to allow safe hostage retrieval.
The Times of Israel reported on October 3 that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office said Israel is “prepared for immediate release of all hostages” following Hamas’s response to the U.S. proposal.
According to the BBC via Yahoo News on October 2, Sharabi expressed worry about whether the peace plan would succeed, telling the BBC he was “very worried” but that “we have to keep hope.”
