Former Israeli captive sharesaccount of learningabout his wife and daughters' tragic demises upon his liberation
A trapped Israeli man, Eli Sharabi, spent an incredible 491 days in confinement at the hands of Hamas. These harrowing days unfolded following his capture in 2023, an experience he relived during a televised interview recently on Channel 12, Israel.
Sharabi was shockingly unaware of the tragic fate that had befallen his beloved wife, Lianne, and daughters, Noiya and Yahel. The heartbreaking realization came to him upon his release from Gaza, which occurred as part of the Gaza ceasefire and hostages agreement between Israel and Hamas. His tear-filled recollections from his release moment included a chilling encounter with his sister and a social worker, who broke the devastating news of his family's death during the October 7, 2023 attacks.
During his ordeal, Sharabi revealed that he and other hostages were subjected to a meager and dreary diet, consisting mostly of a single meal a day, usually a meager bowl of pasta or half a pita bread. The total daily intake amounted to a scant 250-300 calories. Feeling the weight of longing, Sharabi often dreamt of simple pleasures like cracking open a refrigerator, grabbing an egg, a vegetable, or a sip of water - a familiar symbol of freedom to him.
CNN reached out to Hamas for comment upon Sharabi's public revelations, to which Hamas claimed it followed international law during prisoner dealings and even provided captives with food during the Gaza's food crisis.
held hostage by Hamas for 491 days has described how he was starved while in captivity and recalled the moment on his release
Emotional yet resilient, Sharabi pleaded for the public to remember the humanity of all hostages. "Every hostage is someone's child, parent, or sibling. Don't forget them," he appealed.
To mark the end of the first phase of the truce, a ceasefire deal brought about the release of 38 hostages held by Hamas, in addition to over 3,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Negotiations for the next phase are still underway.
Further Insights
from Gaza – when he found out his wife and daughters had been killed during the October 7, 2023 attacks.
International laws governing the treatment of hostages by militant groups like Hamas is primarily overseen by International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law. Key provisions include:
- Prohibition on Hostage Taking: IHL outlaws hostage taking in both international and non-international armed conflicts.
- Humane Treatment: IHL mandates fair and humane treatment for all detainees, including hostages.
- War Crimes: Hostage taking is considered a grave breach of IHL and a war crime under international law.
- Right to Liberty and Security: International human rights law ensures protections against arbitrary detention, including in the form of hostage taking.
- Prohibition on Torture and Ill-Treatment: IHL and human rights law strictly prohibits any form of torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
Reports of hostages' mistreatment, such as the case of Eli Sharabi, are subject to condemnation by international organizations and human rights groups.
hostages held by Hamas, five of whom were freed separately to the deal, as well as thousands of Palestinian prisoners and detainees held by Israel.
- Despite the Gaza ceasefire and hostages agreement, the meager diet provided to Eli Sharabi and other hostages held by Hamas fell below the recommended daily intake of calories, often amounting to just 250-300 calories per day.
- During the interview, Sharabi emphasized the importance of remembering the humanity of all hostages, using the example of the Middleeast situation where hostages, like those held by Hamas, are often forgotten, being someone's child, parent, or sibling.
- International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law strictly prohibit hostage taking, ensuring protections against arbitrary detention and prohibiting any form of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, as seen in the case of hostages, such as those held by Hamas, in the Middle East.