Eli Sharabi, a former hostage, related, “It was deliberate starvation and you remember it vividly.”
By Rachel Avraham
Former hostage Eli Sharabi was interviewed on Israel’s Channel 12 on Sunday evening. In the interview, Sharabi described the dire hunger he endured during captivity: “It was deliberate starvation, and you remember it vividly – that kind of abuse through hunger. While we had a single bowl of pasta a day, which was awful in itself, they ate three or four meals daily, including sweets. You see them laughing in your face, flaunting the food, even claiming they’re suffering the same way.”
He noted that much of the humanitarian aid sent to Gaza was consumed by Hamas terrorists: “From what we saw, dozens of cartons of aid were brought into the tunnels. On one hand, it’s infuriating – they took control of everything and ate like kings, while we were genuinely starved. On the other hand, you hope that as food arrives, you might be able to ask for something more and they’ll take pity on you.”
Speaking about Sunday evening’s mass demonstrations, Sharabi said: “It warms the heart – it’s amazing. I remember when I was released, I had been cut off from any media for 16 months. When I got out and saw what the people of Israel did for the hostages and their families, it touched me deeply.”
He added, “Since then, I’ve been full of gratitude. I meet so many Israelis in so many places, and I thank them. It’s incredible. The support gives immense strength to the families who suffer day after day, hour after hour, in uncertainty and sorrow. Seeing the people of Israel standing behind them gives so much strength.”
Sharabi’s interview comes after 400,000 Israelis at hostage square protested Sunday night against Hamas continuing to hold onto the hostages, after a full day where Israelis across the country held a strike and stopped working for a day in solidarity with the Israeli hostages and their families.
During the demonstration, Arutz Sheva reported that Ofir Braslavski, father of Rom Braslavski, spoke through tears: “Two weeks ago, we received a sign of life from our Rom—a sign that shattered our lives here. Rom is starving, tortured, and terrified with mortal fear. Jews are underweight, dying, crying for help. My Rom has no time. The hostages—the living and the dead—have no time.”
According to Arutz Sheva, Einav Zangauker, mother of Matan Zangauker, shared: “I’m burning with longing. My heart is completely burning for my Matan. We and an entire nation are making noise for you, for all the hostages! Your quiet gaze at the end of the video follows me as I toss and turn in bed at night. I imagine you looking into my eyes. And it hurts me, burns in my soul with longing.”
Arutz Sheva reported that Hana Cohen, aunt of Inbar Hayman, appealed for dignity in death: “You were our whole world, and you remain so even after you were murdered. We need you home, with us—so we can cry and light a candle in your memory. Your mother is waiting to hug the coffin where you’ll rest in peace. Your parents won’t get to walk you to the wedding canopy; they only ask to walk you to eternal rest. I appeal from here to the government of Israel: Inbar is a third-generation Holocaust survivor. Her great-grandfather is buried in a mass grave in Romania—and his great-granddaughter is buried in Gaza. Does this sound logical? Save our girl and all the hostages.”
