

He Spent 491 Days as a Hamas Hostage. This Is How He Survived.
18 snips Oct 7, 2025
Eli Sharabi, a former Israeli hostage held by Hamas for 491 days, shares his harrowing journey of survival with unflinching honesty. He recounts the chilling moments of his capture, the anguish of losing his family, and the psychological tactics that kept him alive during captivity. Eli emphasizes the power of faith, ritual, and camaraderie among fellow hostages. Despite the unimaginable loss and survivor's guilt, he advocates for remaining hostages and aims to honor his family's memory by fostering hope and human connection.
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Dragged From His Home With A Promise
- Eli Sharabi was dragged from his kibbutz safe room on October 7 after terrorists shot the family dog and separated him from his wife and daughters.
- As they hauled him away he shouted, "I'll come back," a promise that sustained him through captivity.
Choosing Life Repeatedly Underground
- Eli describes choosing life repeatedly while enduring beatings, starvation, and humiliation during 491 days in Hamas captivity.
- His promise to return to his wife and daughters provided a daily, sustaining purpose.
First House: Humanizing Through Small Acts
- In Gaza's first 51 days, Eli lived with a Palestinian family who initially guarded and fed him while he shared lessons and played cards.
- He taught them math and economics and tried to humanize himself to his captors to earn respect and better treatment.