On February 8, 2025, after 491 days in Hamas captivity, Eli Sharabi emerged from the tunnels of Gaza, a shadow of his former self, and finally made his way home to Israel, only to learn the devastating news that his wife and daughters had been killed on October 7.
In his highly anticipated book, Hostage, he recounts the harrowing and tragic details of his kidnapping on that devastating morning. Then he takes readers along as he is transported into Gaza, first into the homes of his abductors, then into the dark and terrifying tunnels, writing about his experience with his captors in stark, unflinching prose and offering moving details of the relationships the hostages formed with one another, including the father-son bond he forged with Alon Ohel, still a hostage in Gaza. Along the way, Sharabi also reveals how his faith gave him the resilience to endure the horrific conditions and overcome mental anguish.
The first memoir to be published by a survivor of Hamas captivity, Hostage was an instant bestseller in Israel, breaking the record for fastest-selling book in the history of Hebrew publishing.
For the launch of the English-language translation of Hostage, The Tempe Emanu-El Streicker Cultural Center is honored to welcome Eli Sharabi.
In partnership with Israeli-American Council (IAC)