Former Hamas hostage released 491 days after he was kidnapped and his family was slaughtered

The October 7 Attacks and the Tragedy of Kibbutz Be’eri

On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a devastating attack on several Israeli border communities, including Kibbutz Be’eri, a small agricultural village located just a few miles from the Gaza border. The assault on Be’eri was particularly brutal, with 98 men, women, and children slaughtered, and 30 taken hostage. Among those kidnapped were Eli Sharabi and Ohad Ben-Ami, whose fates would remain uncertain for over a year. The attack left the close-knit community shattered, as the kidnapped and killed accounted for nearly a tenth of Be’eri’s population. For families like the Sharabis, the day would forever be etched in their memory as a moment of unimaginable loss and horror.

Eli Sharabi, a resident of Kibbutz Be’eri, was ripped from his home during the chaos of the attack. His wife, Lianne, and their two daughters, Noiya (16) and Yahel (13), weretragically murdered that day. Sharabi, along with other hostages, was taken into captivity in Gaza, where they endured unimaginable hardship for 491 days. In January 2024, Israel confirmed that Sharabi’s brother, Yossi, who had also been taken hostage, was killed in captivity. The news compounded the grief for the Sharabi family, who were left to grapple with the reality of their devastating loss.

The Release of Eli Sharabi and the Pain of Return

On February 8, 2025, Eli Sharabi and two other hostages, Or Levy and Ohad Ben-Ami, were finally released as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Their return marked the fifth round of hostage releases since the October 7 attacks. While the release was a moment of relief for their families and the nation, it was also a bitter reminder of the irreplaceable loss Sharabi had endured. As he returned to Israel, Sharabi was greeted with joy by those who had prayed for his safe return. However, the celebration was tempered by the absence of his wife and daughters, who would never welcome him home again. Sharabi’s reunion with his family was thus tinged with profound sadness, as he was forced to confront a reality without the loved ones he had lost.

Sharabi’s ordeal in captivity was further revealed when he was forced to speak at a ceremony organized by his captors. In a deeply painful moment, he expressed his longing to return to his wife and daughters, unaware that they had been killed. The video, widely shared, highlighted the psychological torment inflicted on hostages by Hamas, who often use such recordings as tools of propaganda and emotional manipulation. Sharabi’s release brought an end to his physical captivity, but the scars of his experience—and the ache of his loss—would remain.

Yarden Bibas and the Families Still Waiting for Their Loved Ones

Eli Sharabi is not alone in his grief. Yarden Bibas, another hostage released from Hamas captivity, has also faced the agonizing reality of returning to a world without his family. Bibas was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the same October 7 attacks. His wife, Shiri, and their two young sons, Ariel and Kfir, were also kidnapped. Kfir, who was just nine months old at the time of the abduction, is now two years old and remains in captivity along with his brother and mother. The Bibas family’s story has gained widespread attention due to a haunting video showing the two redheaded boys clinging to their mother as they were taken away. Images of their kidnapping went viral, becoming a symbol of the human cost of the conflict.

Yarden Bibas was released on February 1, 2025, after spending 480 days in captivity. Upon his return, he issued a heart-wrenching statement, pleading with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring his family home. “Sadly, my family hasn’t returned to me yet. They are still there. My light is still there, and as long as they’re there, everything here is dark. Thanks to you, I was brought back—help me bring the light back to my life,” Bibas said. His words captured the enduring hope and desperation of families still waiting for their loved ones to return. Ariel and Kfir Bibas remain the only children taken on October 7 who are still in Gaza, and their condition, like that of their mother, remains unknown.

The Psychological Toll of Captivity and the Demand for Action

The release of Sharabi, Levy, and Ben-Ami also brought attention to the harsh conditions endured by hostages in Hamas captivity. The three men appeared gaunt and exhausted when they were released, with many comparing their condition to that of Holocaust survivors. Israeli President Isaac Herzog described their state as a “crime against humanity,” while Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed that their suffering would “not be ignored.” The images of the emaciated hostages sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability.

Ruby and Hagit Chen, whose son Itay Chen remains in Hamas captivity, echoed these sentiments in a statement to Fox News Digital. They demanded that Netanyahu begin “intensive negotiations” to secure the release of all remaining hostages, including their son. While 18 hostages have been released under the current ceasefire agreement, 76 others, including Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir Bibas, remain in Gaza. Many are believed to be alive, but their condition and well-being are unknown. In exchange for the hostages released thus far, Israel has freed over 550 Palestinian prisoners, a controversial move that has sparked debate within the country.

The Ongoing Crisis and the Fight for Justice

The story of Eli Sharabi, Yarden Bibas, and the families of Be’eri serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. For the families of the hostages still in captivity, the pain of waiting continues, fueled by uncertainty and fear. The psychological toll of captivity, both for those held in Gaza and for their loved ones back in Israel, cannot be overstated. Families like the Sharabis and Bibases have endured unimaginable loss and continue to live with the hope that their loved ones will one day return home.

As the situation unfolds, the Israeli government faces increasing pressure to secure the release of all remaining hostages while balancing the complex political and security challenges posed by Hamas. For the families of the captives, their only solace is the unwavering hope that their loved ones will one day be reunited with them. Until then, the darkness of their absence will continue to overshadow their lives.