Released Israeli hostage recounts hunger, chains that ‘cut into your flesh’
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Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi on a stage in Central Gaza on Feb 8, before being handed over by Hamas fighters to Red Cross officials.
PHOTO: AFP
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JERUSALEM - Eli Sharabi, who was held hostage in Gaza for more than 490 days, has recounted his suffering in captivity in a televised interview, an extract of which was posted on social media by Israel’s foreign ministry on Feb 28.
“For a year and four months, my legs were shackled with chains with very, very heavy locks that cut into your flesh,” Mr Sharabi said, in the interview broadcast late on Feb 27 on Israel’s Channel 12.
He spoke of intense hunger, food deprivation and the days when the only thing to eat was “this quarter of a pita that you can finish in three bites”.
“You eat it for 10 minutes, 15 minutes, crumb by crumb, to really feel that you’ve eaten something,” he said in the interview.
Mr Sharabi, now 53, was at his home in kibbutz Beeri with his British-born wife Lianne and their two teenage daughters when Hamas stormed it on Oct 7, 2023, in the attack on Israel
He was released on Feb 8 with two other Israelis, as part of an exchange for Palestinian prisoners under the truce that came into effect on Jan 19.
The frail, disoriented appearance of the three men sparked dismay and shock
It was only after his release that Mr Sharabi learned that his wife and two teenage daughters had been killed on Oct 7, 2023.
His brother, Mr Yossi Sharabi, was taken hostage separately and is still in Gaza, presumed dead.
“Contrary to what one might think, I’m not angry,” Mr Eli Sharabi told Channel 12.
“I’m lucky I had Lianne for 30 years and our two amazing daughters for years, I’m lucky they didn’t kill me,” he said.
Mr Sharabi recalled that one day in captivity, his guard “learned that Israeli planes had destroyed his family’s house”.
“I was the first one to get it. Kicks, punches, to the ribs,” he said.
“He was starved. Beaten. Tortured – physically and mentally,” Israel’s foreign ministry said, in a post on X on Feb 28 which included an extract from the interview.
“For 491 days, he was held hostage in unimaginable conditions, completely cut off from the outside world,” it said.
Mr Sharabi said he gave the almost hour-long interview for the hostages still being held in Gaza so that they could be brought back as soon as possible. AFP
