Ex-Hostages Recall Time in Captivity Together

When Eli was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, his wife and two daughters were murdered by the terrorists. Meanwhile, Alon was a younger Israeli taken from the Nova Music Festival. In many ways, Eli stepped up as a father figure for Alon while they were in Gaza. Eli remembers first being moved by Alon’s bravery when he said he would forgo food so that there would be no conflict with their captors. Their bravery would also help them stand up to them in times of abuse.

Recounting their conditions in Gaza, Sharabi said: “In the toughest moments, you’re so hungry you could eat the walls. We were gathering every crumb on the carpet.”

Despite the deprivation, 53-year-old Sharabi said, the much younger Ohel “stood across from the terrorist and told him he refuses to take food from him if he doesn’t give it to everyone.”

Ohel, recounting the same incident, said the terrorist was “playing with us. They were always playing with us.” He said the captives were similarly abused when it came to mattresses, pillows, blankets, and clothes.

One of their most difficult moments wasn’t one of physical abuse. When one of their captors asked, “Why do we love death and you, the Jews, love life?” neither knew how to answer. The two also reported physical violence that resulted in injuries, such as broken ribs.

Eli and Alon were held together until Eli was freed in January of this year during a hostage deal. Alon was one of the last living hostages released in the October ceasefire. Eli had thought that Alon would be angry at him for “leaving” him, but that was never the case. Throughout his remaining seven months in captivity, Alon kept his head up. Upon their reunion, the only “anger” Eli had was at the fact that Alon never told Eli how skilled he was at the piano.

We praise God that both these men, from completely different walks of Israeli life, who were brought together through terror, have both come home and can share their story. When Eli and Alon reunited, Eli said that it wasn’t the same version of Alon he met in November 2023, but a stronger and more resolved one. The Fellowship and our supporters pray that this will be the case for Israel and her people after two years of war and terror.