Hostage

De: Eli Sharabi

Narrado por: Geoffrey Cantor

In a raw and unflinching memoir, Eli Sharabi, a survivor of 491 days in Hamas captivity, recounts the harrowing ordeal of his abduction from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7th, 2023, the loss of his wife and daughters, and his unyielding resolve to survive. Narrated by award winning actor, Geoffrey Cantor.

“I refuse to let myself drown in pain. I am surviving. I am a hostage. In the heart of Gaza. A stranger in a strange land. In the home of a Hamas-supporting family. And I'm getting out of here. I have to. I’m getting out of here. I’m coming home.”—Eli Sharabi

On October 7, 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 his front door while his family watched in horror, Sharabi was plunged deep into the suffocating darkness of Gaza’s tunnels. As war raged above him, he endured a grueling 491 days in captivity, all the while holding onto the hope that he would one day be reunited with his loved ones.

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.

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.

Narrated in haunting timbre by award winning actor Geoffrey Cantor, and compared to Elie Wiesel’s Night and Laura Hillenbrand’s Unbroken, Hostage is a profound witness to history, so it shall be neither forgotten nor erased.

No words for the eternal impact of this book.

Listen to this book. Share this book. The world needs to learn from Eli Sharabi’s experience.

Engrossing account of the unimaginable

I expected this to be heavy given the subject matter. I did not expect this to be a book that I listened to in one sitting. It is at once a riveting story about what happened in the tunnels under Gaza, and an intimate portrait of the hostages and captors as people in the middle of a war. This book ties a number of the October 7 hostage stories together and brings to life survival in captivity.

Moving to tears

An important testimony of the cruelty and devastation brought by Hamas on October 7 and forward, but also the bravery, courage and strength of the Israeli hostages in captivity. Eli is an incredible inspiration.

Raw and honest

Eli is a pillar of strength and resilience. Must listen. He tells a real and honest story.

A must for the world to know and listen

This harrowing story is well written and narrated. Listening to this book is a must for everyone that has a heart and cares about humanity.

Inspiring and raw

The author recounts all that happened to him from the day he was taken hostage until his release. The book is filled with raw and inspiring details of his captivity and provides great insights into the motivations of his captors and the mindset one must have to survive.

Everyone on the planet should read this and take it to heart

This book is so gentle yet SO powerful. It’s profound. It’s moving. It can be life changing. It reminds me of Viktor Frankel’s Man Search for Meaning- in that it’s a true story of the human spirit soaring above a human body being oppressed and humiliated. Living in the US in 2025 what really astounds me about this book is that it humanizes the enemy. Here in the US we dehumanize our fellow citizens if they don’t belong to our political party, which is absolutely tragic. This book sees and elevates the humanity in EVERYONE. Eli doesn’t vilify his captors, he strives to understand them. They’re awful to him, they starve him, shackle him, humiliate him- yet he and his fellow hostages see that their captors have families and hurts and fears and insecurities- and though he never says this- I understand that in different circumstances they might be friends. This is an intimate look into war and how it affects normal every day people who never expected to be in these circumstances. It’s so truthful and uplifting even though the events that take place are tragic. Everyone who would like to understand the Israel-Gaza conflict, or really any conflict between human beings- will enjoy and treasure this book. I’m profoundly grateful to Eli for sharing his story, it’s a privilege to have read it.

Such Strength

Thank you for sharing the unthinkable - I’m so glad all of you are finally out. In the future, I hope to read about Alon and your reunion. As for your family, may their memory be a blessing. Am Yisrael Chai!

This is an incredible true story of the will to live.

Eli tells his story and his will to survive being kept hostage only to face insurmountable loss after his release… I wish him nothing but the peace he so deserves

This book leaves you without words

I'm just amazed by the resilience of this man through the worse. May God bless him and restore him.