Eli Sharabi was taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 , 2023 and held captive for 491 days. Photo: Blake Ezra
On October 7th 2023, Eli Sharabi was kidnapped by Hamas and held for 491 days.
He and his wife and two daughters were in their home on a kibbutz in Southern Israel when the attack happened.
His next 14 months were spent mostly in tunnels under Gaza - with often cruel, but occasionally kind captors, little food, no sunlight - and most importantly no knowledge that his British wife and teenage daughters had been killed the day he was taken.
It was only after his release in February that he learned that terrible news, and that his brother had also died captive in Gaza.
Sharabi said it was a "devastating moment" when they weren't there to greet him.
Despite his horrendous ordeal, Eli Sharabi regards himself as lucky and says he does not hate his captors.
"Even when they humiliate me, even they violate ... against me from time to time you understand it's necessary to have this relationship with them if you want to go back to your family."
He is the first released Israeli hostage to write a book about his experience.
Sharabi shares his story with Nine to Noon's Kathryn Ryan. Listen live at the top of this page, on the RNZ app or your local RNZ frequency.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
