The parading of an Israeli man whose British-born wife and British teenage girls were murdered by terrorists in the October 7 attacks has been slammed as a “grotesque spectacle”.
Lawyers acting for Eli Sharabi’s family said the taking of hostages was a war crime which amounted to “torture” for those abducted and their anguished families.
Mr Sharabi, 52, was taken captive in 2023 from Kibbutz Beeri, a communal farm that was one of the hardest hit in the Hamas attack.
His Bristol-born wife, Lianne, and daughters Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13, were killed when the terrorists shot their dog, then took them hostage in their safe room and set fire to the house.
The family was at first considered missing until their bodies were identified more than a week later.
Mr Sharabi’s brother, Yossi, who lived next door, was killed in captivity.
Mr Sharabi along with Ohad Ben Ami, 56, and Or Levy, 34, were paraded on stage surrounded by armed masked terrorists before they were handed over to the Red Cross this morning (Saturday).
British lawyers Adam Wagner and Adam Rose said: “We were saddened but unfortunately not surprised at Eli, Ohad and Or’s physical condition and the grotesque spectacle of their release, which should be a wake-up call, if one were needed, to ensure the speedy return of all of the hostages. Hostage taking is a war crime.
“The disgusting spectacle of gaunt and terrified hostages being forced to ‘thank’ their captors surrounded by the armed militants who are responsible for their and their families’ torture over 16 months should be a wake up call for the world.
“Every nation should be calling for all the remaining hostages to be released immediately and unconditionally, so that their almost-500 day ordeal, and the associated torture of their families, is brought to a speedy end.”