In a heartbreaking turn of events, Eli Sharabi, who was released from captivity by Hamas as part of a ceasefire deal, learned that his wife and daughters had been murdered. Eli, who had been taken hostage 16 months ago, was handed over to the Red Cross in a carefully orchestrated release on Saturday. The tragic news of his family's death was unknown to him during his captivity, adding another layer of sorrow to his already harrowing experience.
Lianne Sharabi, along with her husband Eli and their daughters Noiya and Yahel, were found murdered in their safe house this year. Lianne's parents, Gill and Pete Brisley, expressed uncertainty about whether Eli knew about his family's fate until after his release. Their daughter Lianne first moved to Israel from Staple Hill, Bristol, at the age of 19 to volunteer at a kibbutz. The couple's daughters, Noiya and Yahel, were just 16 and 13 years old at the time of their deaths.
Eli Sharabi's physical appearance upon release reflected the toll of his captivity. His in-laws described him as looking "gaunt," and his voice was "a bit husky" during a video call post-release. Despite the ordeal, Eli remained "lucid" when he spoke with them.
"He got choked up a couple of times but managed a small smile for us. Such a brave man," – Pete Brisley
The release of Eli Sharabi was part of an internationally brokered ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, which came into effect on January 19. This deal has seen the release of 16 Israeli hostages and 566 prisoners since the ceasefire began. Ultimately, the agreement aims for the release of 33 hostages in weekly handovers in exchange for 1,900 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.
Another released hostage, Or Levy, discovered upon his release that his wife had been killed by Hamas during the same attack in which he was abducted. His cousin, Michael Levy, poignantly described Or's ordeal:
"For 491 days, he [Or] held on to the hope that he would return to her. For 491 days, he didn't know she was no longer alive." – Michael Levy
The human cost of this ongoing conflict is grim. According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, at least 47,500 Palestinians have died due to Israel's offensive. Additionally, the United Nations reports that roughly two-thirds of Gaza's buildings have suffered damage or destruction.
Gill Brisley shared the emotional moment of seeing Eli after his release:
"Seeing Eli come out now, it brought everything back. [We] sat and bawled our eyes out." – Gill Brisley
She further expressed her mixed emotions:
"I was sitting there cuddling Lianne's teddy bear. I think I made him wet actually. It reminded us of what we lost." – Gill Brisley
Despite the overwhelming grief of losing their daughter and granddaughters, the Brisleys find solace in Eli's return:
"The only thing that keeps us going is the fact we know Eli is back. At least there's one member of our very close family that is still alive," – Gill Brisley
Pete Brisley emphasized their commitment to helping Eli recover:
"We hope to be a part of getting him back to some sort of normal." – Pete Brisley
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