Hostage

De: Eli Sharabi

Narrado por: Geoffrey Cantor

On October 7th, 2023, Hamas terrorists stormed Kibbutz Be'eri, shattering the peaceful life Eli Sharabi had built with his British wife, Lianne, and their teenage daughters, Noiya and Yahel. Dragged barefoot out of his front door while his family watched in horror, Sharabi was plunged into the suffocating darkness of Gaza's tunnels, where he endured 491 days in captivity. As war raged above him, Sharabi held onto the hope that he would be reunited with his loved ones.

In the first memoir by a released Israeli hostage, and the fastest-selling book in Israel's history, Sharabi offers a searing firsthand account of survival under unimaginable conditions—starvation, isolation, physical beatings, and psychological abuse at the hands of his captors.

Eli Sharabi's story is one of hunger and heartache, of physical pain, longing, loneliness and a helplessness that threatens to destroy the soul. But it is also a story of strength, of resilience, and of the human spirit's refusal to surrender. It is about the camaraderie forged in captivity, the quiet power of faith, and one man's unrelenting decision to choose life, time and time again.

Reminiscent of Elie Wiesel's Night, Hostage is a profound witness to history, so that it shall be neither forgotten nor erased.

©2025 Eli Sharabi (P)2025 Hachette UK Limited

You Are My Hero

I just finished Hostage, and I am still trying to process what I experienced.

This is not just a book. It is testimony. It is humanity under unimaginable darkness. It is strength in its purest form.

Listening to Eli Sharabi share his story of captivity is deeply moving and humbling. The resilience, the mental endurance, and the quiet dignity he maintained throughout such an inhuman experience left me with profound respect. You don’t just hear about suffering — you hear about faith, identity, memory, and the will to survive.

What struck me most was not only the hardship, but the humanity. The way he speaks about hope, about family, about holding on to self when everything is stripped away — it forces you to reflect on your own perspective and gratitude.

This book is difficult at times — as it should be — but it is essential.

I encourage everyone to listen or read this story. Not out of curiosity, but out of respect. We owe it to stories like this to bear witness.

Thank you, Eli, for your courage in sharing this.

An incredible read

A must-read…. A story of darkness and the strength it takes to get through sheer hell. My heart goes to Eli, and to all the hostages, who endured so much and survived, or did not

The strength of character of Eli is outstanding.

It is overwhelming. I cannot begin to understand how this was allowed to go on so long. I have developed a huge dislike and revulsion towards the hostage takers. However Eli has made me realise that the young men in the tunnels were also victims. Victims of brainwashing, hatred taught, lies and poverty. I almost want to show a bit of compassion...

Gripping

Tragic and heartbreaking. Such an unnecessary loss of life and grief. Wishing you peace now, Eli xx

The humanity

Restrained , elegant deeply touching, but at the same time realistic , a must read , the distance between the subject and the situation is impressive