Eli Sharabi was held captive in the Gaza Strip for 491 days. In an interview with the Israeli radio station 103FM, he spoke openly about psychological terror, complete isolation, and his conviction that one day he would be freed. Despite threats and deliberate manipulation, he never lost the belief that Israel would not abandon its hostages.
Sharabi said there was one sentence that sometimes made the other prisoners angry. “There was one thing that annoyed the others – I always said it was only a matter of time until we would be freed. For me, it was completely clear.”
He described how systematically attempts were made to break the prisoners. “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 no one cares about you.”
The isolation was total. “We didn’t see television and we didn’t hear radio. We were exposed to nothing.” Nevertheless, he maintained trust. “I had great confidence in the defense establishment and in the values of the State of Israel, which never leaves anyone behind.”
After his release, Sharabi began a difficult new chapter. “I’m constantly active – no complaints. New things are happening all the time. I’m rebuilding my life, and it’s not easy after so many years. I’m happy about these new beginnings.”
During captivity, he repeatedly had the same dream. “I dreamed that I would return, take Lian and the girls, give them a week or two to pack, and move to England, where Lian is from.” Today he sees many things differently. “My worldview has completely changed. I love this country.”
In the same program, Michal Nagari, the mother of Major Roi Nagari, who fell in battle on October 7, also spoke. She recalled the moment her son put on his uniform. “Roi was a civilian in every respect, but also an active reservist who loved his unit. On October 7, he put on his uniform, closed the door, put a book of Psalms in his bag, and mobilized his team.”
She described how he saved people in the kibbutz. “By evening, he managed to rescue Roni and her little son from the Baruch family home. Later they encountered terrorists at another house. When Roi entered the kibbutz, he felt he was fighting for his home.”
Sharabi was visibly moved by her words. “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.”
At the end, Sharabi said what he misses most today. “I miss family life – Shabbat dinners, the car rides when we dropped the girls off at their friends. We listened to music and talked about their week.” Sharabi’s wife and two daughters were murdered on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023. He only found out about their deaths after being freed. His brother, Yossi, was also taken hostage and died in Hamas captivity.
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