Eli Sharabi, a man who endured 491 days as a Hamas hostage, carried a chilling premonition. Months before the horrific attack at Bondi Beach, he directly warned Australian leaders of escalating antisemitism and the potential for violence. He felt a darkness gathering, a familiar echo of history’s most brutal chapters.
During a meeting in June with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Sharabi didn’t mince words. He spoke of an impending hate crime, a fear he saw reflected in the anxious faces of Jewish people on the streets. He implored them to take a firm stand against antisemitism, believing a stronger voice could avert disaster.
“When it happens, a hate crime here, it will be your responsibility,” he remembers telling them, a statement that struck him as odd even as he spoke it. The attack on the Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, leaving devastation and loss in its wake, confirmed his worst fears. It felt like a horrifying replay of the persecution faced by European Jews decades ago.
Sharabi’s release from Hamas captivity on February 8, 2025, brought a bittersweet freedom. He learned, after finally being freed, that his wife, Lianne, and their daughters, Noiya and Yahel, had been murdered during the October 7th massacre. The joy of his own liberation was forever shadowed by their absence.
Since then, Sharabi has become a global voice, sharing his harrowing experience with Jewish communities and world leaders. He chronicles his ordeal in his book, “Hostage,” a testament to resilience and a warning against complacency. He discovered a powerful network of people who fought tirelessly for his release while he was imprisoned.
The support he received while captive was overwhelming. From family and friends to strangers across the globe, people rallied for his freedom and the freedom of all the hostages. He found solace in this collective effort, a beacon of hope during his darkest hours.
Sharabi speaks with particular warmth about Alon Ohel, a fellow hostage with whom he forged a deep bond. Ohel’s release felt like welcoming home a son, and they now maintain a daily connection, sharing a unique understanding born of shared trauma.
Now, nearly a year into his freedom, Sharabi cherishes every moment. He understands the true value of liberty, the simple act of choosing his own path without seeking permission. Yet, the memory of his wife, daughters, and brother remains a constant companion.
Initially, he envisioned a new life for his family in London, a sanctuary from the fear that gripped them on October 7th. However, his plans have evolved. He now seeks a quiet life, a chance to heal, contingent on the return of Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage in Gaza.
Returning to Kibbutz Be'eri is unthinkable. Every corner holds a painful reminder of the tragedy that shattered his world. He needs a fresh start, a new landscape where he can begin to rebuild his life, likely somewhere further north in central Israel. It’s a journey toward healing, a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit.
