Brit relative of Hamas hostage begs for the chance to tell him his wife and children are dead
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The British family of a hostage held by Hamas last night begged the Israeli authorities: when he is freed let us tell him that his wife and children are dead. Eli Sharabi, 52, is probably not aware that his British wife and teenage children were killed, his brother-in-law Stephen Brisley told the Mirror. Eli's name was one of 33 on a list to be freed soon. Stephen, from Bridgend, Wales, pleaded that a family member be allowed to break the news to Eli when he is released - not to hear it from a soldier or an official.
He is part of the ‘hostage-for-prisoners’ deal between Israel and Hamas. Bristol born Lianne, 48, and their daughters Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13 were all killed in the horrific October 7th attacks. Eli was taken hostage - apparently before Hamas gunmen shot his family dead - and taken into Gaza.
Stephen said: “I think the prospect of getting back to Lianne and the girls is what's kept him going all of this time. When he finds out that they are not alive, that could finish and crush him.” He added: “I want to reassure him that - regardless of fact that Lianne and the girls are no longer with us - we will always be here. That we will always be part of his family and he will always be part of our family.
"And that we will do whatever he needs us to do to help him recover, rehabilitate and to build a new life even without Lianne and the girls. That assumes Hamas is not lying and that Eli is alive. But I don't yet know whether I'll be travelling to Israel to see him and welcome him back, or to attend his funeral. It's an awful situation to not know, one way or the other. We also don't know what physical and mental state Eli is going to be in.”.
