The British family of an Israeli hostage released by Hamas on Saturday amid the ongoing ceasefire between the terror group and Israel have voiced concern over his “gaunt” appearance after months of captivity.
Eli Sharabi, 52, was among three hostages freed this weekend, 16 months after he was captured by Hamas during its October 7, terror attack on Israel in 2023.
He had been taken from Kibbutz Beeri on the day of the attack, in which some 1,200 people were killed, with his British-born wife, Lianne, and daughters, Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13, among them.
Mr Sharabi’s brother-in-law Steve Brisley, who lives in Bridgend, Wales, said he was relieved to see him released, but was troubled by his appearance, and whether he was aware that his wife and daughters had died.
Before a crowd of hundreds, the armed militants reportedly led Eli Sharabi; Ohad Ben Ami, 56; and Or Levy, 34, onto a stage to make statements before they were handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, as per AP.
Speaking to the BBC Breakfast shortly after his brother in law’s release, Mr Brisley said he had been hit with “the whole pendulum of emotions – joy and relief through to heartache and everything in between”.
“It’s the end of one part of the nightmare that we’ve been on, but beginning of the next chapter… It’s been an incredibly emotional 24 hours or so since Eli’s name appeared on the list yesterday afternoon,” he said.
“To finally have confirmation that he’s alive and that he’s coming out is obviously what we’ve been working towards for last 15,16 months, but to see him paraded in the way he was in that propaganda fashion was incredibly difficult.
“And to see the physical state of him – on one hand he’s upright and walking independently at least, but he’s gaunt, thin and just the light gone from his eyes.
“All the way through this, we’ve not known if he was alive or dead,” Mr Brisley said.
Mr Sharabi’s family said in a statement they were “delighted” he had finally been freed, but were horrified at his physical condition, as well as the “grotesque spectacle” of the handover, as per the BBC.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is facilitating the handover, and said it was “increasingly concerned about the conditions surrounding release operations”.
“We strongly urge all parties, including the mediators, to take responsibility to ensure that future releases are dignified and private,” the organisation said.
Their condition sparked outrage in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office saying, “we will not accept the shocking scenes” of the choreographed release, as per The Independent.
In an apparent response to concerns over the health of the hostages, the Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing, claimed it had “made efforts to preserve their lives despite the (Israeli) bombardment,” ABC 11 reported.
The three civilian men were among some 250 people abducted during October 7, which sparked the war in Gaza, with more than 48,000 people were killed in the enclave, according to the Hamas-run health ministry there.
Later Saturday, Israel released 183 Palestinian prisoners, some also appearing gaunt and weak, as per AP. The Red Crescent said seven were taken to hospitals.
It was the fifth exchange since the ceasefire started on January 19.
