Hostage (Kidnapped) by Eli Sharabi (Book in Hebrew) - חטוף / אלי שרעבי

"Because in those moments, as I was being dragged near the fence of my kibbutz, under the blazing sun, with the smell of fires in the air, a bandana tied over my eyes, and two terrorists pulling me by both arms, with the clear knowledge that I was being taken to Gaza while Lian and the girls were left behind — I focused and narrowed my mind to one mission my survival and return home. Eli as I once was no longer existed. From now on, I am Eli the survivor." Eli Sharabi survived 491 days in Hamas captivity after being abducted from his home and family in Kibbutz Be'eri on the morning of October 7, 2023. In this powerful and moving account, Eli shares in first person and with raw openness the complex story of his captivity — from the moment he was brutally torn away from his wife, daughters, and former life, until his return home, wrapped in a flag. It is a testimony of harrowing days of hunger and darkness, of physical and emotional pain, of searing longing, loneliness, and paralyzing helplessness. But beyond that, it is also a story of the resilience of the human spirit — of the courage to survive, of bonds of brotherhood and friendship formed under impossible conditions, of hope and faith, and of the conscious choice to cling to life. Eli Sharabi, a member of Kibbutz Be'eri, was born in Tel Aviv in 1972. He holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and Management and an MBA from Ben-Gurion University. Over the years, he has held key positions in the kibbutz, including treasurer, operations manager, and director. In October 2023, he served as Chief Financial Officer at the Iridium investment fund.