"I Knew We'd Be Free": Former Hostage Eli Sharabi's Unbreakable Faith in

Eli Sharabi, the former hostage released after 491 agonizing days in Hamas captivity, opened up in a moving radio interview about his unyielding faith that freedom would come, the psychological torment inflicted by his captors, and the profound loss that shadows his return to life in Israel. Kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri during the October 7, 2023, massacre when Hamas terrorists slaughtered 1,200 Israelis and abducted 251 others, Sharabi endured isolation, starvation, and relentless mental warfare in Gaza's tunnels, yet clung to certainty: "There was a sentence that annoyed the others who were with me, I kept saying it was only a matter of time until we were freed. For me, it was completely clear."

He described the captors' tactics: "They used a great deal of psychological terror. It’s very hard to ignore when they tell you that your family has forgotten you and that nobody cares." Still, Sharabi held firm: "I told myself I didn’t know what the politicians were doing, but there are professional people who are working to free us day and night, and eventually we would be released." Cut off from the world, "We didn’t watch television or listen to the radio. We weren’t exposed to anything," he relied on experience: "I was 52 years old, you understand how things work. This isn’t a pizza you put in the oven and take out after 15 minutes. I had great trust in the defense establishment and in the values of the State of Israel, which does not leave anyone behind."

Now rebuilding outside Be'eri after 35 years there, Sharabi stays active: "I’m constantly active, no complaints. New things are happening all the time. I’m rebuilding my life outside the Be'eri community, and it isn’t simple after so many years. I’m excited about these new beginnings." Rejecting victimhood, "I don’t know how to act like a martyr, that term insults me. Things happen. There are situations." He once dreamed of fleeing to England with his British-born wife Lian and daughters, but changed: "My worldview changed completely. I love this country, and I joined in the fight to bring back my brother’s body."

Guest Michal Nagari, mother of Maj. Roi Nagari killed defending Be'eri on October 7, shared her son's heroism: "Roi was a civilian but an active reservist who loved his unit. On October 7, he put on his uniform, closed the door, placed a Book of Psalms in his bag, and mobilized his team." Roi rescued civilians amid chaos, entering homes under fire. Sharabi responded: "I understand who Roi was. It’s incredible how you speak about his self-sacrifice and his love for the country. I wish there were 200 more like him. People like Roi stood up and saved so many lives in Be'eri. Thank you."

Sharabi misses simple joys: "I miss family life, Shabbat meals, the car rides taking the girls to their friends. We listened to music and talked about their week. It reflected the values I tried to pass on to my daughters." His story embodies resilience against Hamas barbarism, a reminder that while terrorists took much, they could not take Israel's spirit.