HERZLIYA: Two years after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that triggered the war in Gaza, Israel has yet to recover 48 of the hostages taken that day, around 20 of whom are believed to be alive. A new US-supported peace initiative has renewed hopes of securing their release.
Among those freed earlier this year is Eli Sharabi, 53, who said he was held for 16 months in tunnels under Gaza. He was released in February as part of a ceasefire agreement.
Only after his release did Sharabi learn that his wife and two teenage daughters had been killed during the Oct. 7 assault on Kibbutz Be’eri. “There can be no closure,” he said, “until all the hostages return.”
According to Israeli officials, Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people and abducted 251 others during the Oct. 7 attack. Most hostages have since been freed through ceasefires or negotiated exchanges.
Israeli Police and military inquiries have confirmed that some Israeli civilians were unintentionally killed by Israeli forces during the initial fighting, as troops attempted to repel the Hamas-led attackers and prevent abductions during the Oct. 7 attack. Officials have said the deaths occurred amid crossfire and confusion during the surprise assault.
Inside Israel, pressure has been building on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to end the war and secure the release of those still held captive. Tens of thousands of Israelis have joined mass demonstrations in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and other cities, calling for a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal. Protesters say continued military operations in Gaza endanger the hostages’ lives and deepen Israel’s international isolation.
The Israel Defense Forces have also admitted to mistakenly killing three Israeli hostages - Yotam Haim, Samer Talalka, and Alon Shamriz - in December 2023 in Gaza’s Sheijaiyah neighborhood. Troops misidentified the men as a threat amid heavy fighting. The military called the incident a “tragic mistake” and launched an internal investigation.
Sharabi’s account appears in Hostage, a memoir published in Hebrew earlier this year and released in English on Tuesday. In the book, he describes confinement in underground tunnels with limited access to washing and food, and occasional beatings by guards. He said meals consisted mainly of bread and that he weighed 44 kilograms (97 pounds) upon his release.
The war has drawn extensive international criticism. The United Nations and several human rights organizations have accused Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza, citing the scale of civilian deaths, destruction, and humanitarian collapse.
Israel’s military response has killed more than 67,000 people in Gaza, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run territory. Large parts of the enclave have been destroyed, and international organizations report that most residents have been displaced and face severe shortages of food, water, and medicine. The United Nations has warned that ongoing blockades and destruction of infrastructure have created conditions of famine in parts of Gaza, with millions at risk of severe food insecurity.
Sharabi said he was initially held in an apartment before being moved underground, where he was detained with three other hostages, including 24-year-old Alon Ohel. The group, he said, developed routines to maintain morale and physical activity.
Sharabi now advocates for the release of remaining hostages and has met with international officials, including former US President Donald Trump, to raise awareness. His efforts, he said, are motivated by concern for Ohel, who appeared in a recent video released by Hamas.
“I hope those in positions of power will act to end the war and bring the captives home,” Sharabi said.
(With AP)
