🔗 Share this article

A former Israeli captive who lost his dual-national wife and children lost their lives during Hamas attacks during 7 October states he is "very worried" that the newest peace plan aimed at stopping hostilities involving Israeli forces versus Hamas will fall through

In a rare conversation, the survivor, emerging as among the most prominent individuals taken when gunmen stormed into Israel in 2023, said the lives of the remaining 20 living captives are being placed in danger due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian war

He urged American leader President Trump to "finish the job" by using his influence to guarantee those individuals along with 28 other hostages thought to have perished get freed

He told his former captors, Hamas, to approve the agreement on behalf of their community…and the Middle East... War is wrong and devastating for both sides"

"We must maintain hope" that achieving an agreement, he added

This 20-point ceasefire proposal, supported by the US president together with Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, suggests an immediate cessation of hostilities and the release in three days of all captive, in return for hundreds of detained Gazans and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel

Representatives from Hamas have indicated they will reject it

The group continues to hold the remains of Mr Sharabi's brother Yossi, whom he is desperate to return home for a burial, as well as his companion, 24-year-old Alon Ohel, who was held alongside him in underground passages underneath the Gaza Strip

After enduring nearly 500 days as a prisoner, the survivor discovered only on the date of his release this past February that his wife Lianne, and children, 16-year-old Noiya and thirteen-year-old Yahel, were no longer living - killed by gunfire following his capture

When they were not present to welcome him upon returning home, he collapsed emotionally understanding "the worst scenario had occurred"

Approximately 1,200 people within Israel lost their lives during October 7th when militants attacked across the boundary, while 251 others became captives

With the two-year mark draws near, the former hostage has told about his ordeal and what is driving him to reconstruct his existence

The Captivity Experience

Within Israel during sunset, Mr Sharabi positions himself looking out at the calm sea waters

As he breathes in the sea air, such freedom seemed far away months before while he endured starvation, abuse and violence

During that October 7th daybreak, the Sharabi family sheltered for hours in their safe room at their community, an Israeli community with approximately 1,000 people close to the Gaza border

Almost ten percent people within the community lost their lives or became captives during that incident

As Hamas gunmen entered forcibly and gunfire erupted, both he and his wife, born in the UK, threw themselves over their children

He states they told the gunmen that Lianne, Noiya and younger daughter all possessed UK citizenship, yet they pulled him out of his home

"I understood this was when I've probably been taken hostage

Therefore, I turned my head toward my girls yelling 'I will return' - and that was the final moment I viewed their faces"

Mr Sharabi, the kibbutz's former business manager, recounted how they initially transported him to a religious building in Gaza in which assaults occurred by local residents

"They covered my eyes, yet I heard adults and youngsters who began to lynch me using their hands, and the kids' shoes start to hit me while I lay on the floor"

During nearly all of his 16 months as a prisoner he states they restrained him - initially using cords on his arms and legs, then with metal restraints

The pain made him to pass out

However, he mentions he remained resolved to stay alive, even when he struggled breathing during one month after he says those holding him had beaten him and broken his ribs

"It's scary

It's humiliating when the freedom gets removed from your life", he recalls

"You need to ask the permission to breathe, for speaking, to go to the toilet

You need to beg for food, water, everything

But I promised my daughters 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 regardless of condition, with legs or no legs

I truly maintained faith from the first moment I will survive that"

Underground Captivity

The survivor states they moved him into Hamas' network of tunnels, where he recounts spending months alongside three fellow captives in cramped, terrible circumstances with poor hygiene or adequate nutrition

For the final six months he says they were given just a single meal daily typically consisting of just one and half portions of flatbread

"Starvation was the most difficult aspect… you consume the crumbs from the floor", he says

Following his loss of over 25 kilograms in weight, there was worldwide shock at the images of his weak and thin condition when he was finally released

He was told by those holding him about his coming freedom seven days prior to it happened

They also mentioned his brother became a captive and perished in Gaza, probably in an Israeli attack

As this freedom approached, he dreamed that he would move with Lianne, Noiya and Yahel, to the United Kingdom, near his wife's relatives

On the day of his freedom, Hamas paraded him in a staged event in a televised ceremony, accompanied by dozens of gunmen

He states they forced him to state in this ceremony how much he was looking forward reuniting with loved ones - but those watching knew something unknown to him

The joy of release quickly transformed into heartbreaking truth during his return home

"A support professional approached me and said: 'Your mom and your sister are waiting for you'

I responded 'Please bring me Lianne and my daughters'

{And