Former Hostage Eli Sharabi Recounts Gaza Ordeal in Upcoming Memoir

Eli Sharabi, one of the Israeli hostages abducted during Hamas’s brutal October 7, 2023 massacre, is sharing his story with the world. His memoir, "Hostage," already released in Hebrew, will be published in English on October 7, 2025 the second anniversary of his kidnapping from Kibbutz Be’eri.

Held for 491 days in Gaza, Sharabi’s firsthand account shared recently in Time magazine offers a chilling window into life in Hamas captivity. From his violent abduction to his final hours before release, the memoir paints a raw portrait of terror, survival, and unbreakable Jewish faith.

In the first released passage, Sharabi recalls being dragged from his home and smuggled into Gaza, where a violent mob of civilians attempted to lynch him in the streets. His life was saved only when Hamas terrorists pulled him into a mosque. The chaos and hatred in those early hours set the tone for what would become an unimaginable ordeal.

A month later, Sharabi was marched into Hamas’s underground terror tunnel network, a vast labyrinth equipped with flooring, tiled walls, and even a kitchen. There, he was held alongside fellow hostages Almog Meir Jan, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, and Ori Danino. The men bonded in their suffering, clinging to rituals and fragments of hope.

Food was nearly nonexistent. A stale pita and a can of cream cheese were often split between four men. Some days, just a spoonful of rice. Meanwhile, their captors dined on hot meals and sweets. Starvation was only part of the torment they endured filth, disease, isolation, and constant fear.

Despite the darkness, faith provided a lifeline. Sharabi described whispering Shema Yisrael to himself like a mantra, helping him stay grounded. The hostages even managed to hold Kiddush on Friday nights, using water and scraps of pita saved throughout the week a profound act of defiance and spiritual strength.

In another chapter, Sharabi recounts his release on February 8, revealing how Hamas staged the moment for cameras. He was instructed on how to speak and move during the filmed handover. “It was a show,” he writes, “but we were still alive.”

Sharabi’s memoir is not just a personal story it is a testimony to Hamas’s inhumanity and a call to remember those still held hostage. As of today, dozens remain missing, and their fate is still unknown.

"Hostage" stands as a harrowing yet inspiring testament to the endurance of the Jewish spirit, even underground, even starving, even surrounded by enemies. It is a voice for the silenced and a reminder that the world must not forget.

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