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Hostage

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Hostage

By: Eli Sharabi
Narrated by: Geoffrey Cantor
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About this listen

On October 7th, 2023, Hamas terrorists stormed Kibbutz Be'eri, shattering the peaceful life Eli Sharabi had built with his British wife, Lianne, and their teenage daughters, Noiya and Yahel. Dragged barefoot out of his front door while his family watched in horror, Sharabi was plunged into the suffocating darkness of Gaza's tunnels, where he endured 491 days in captivity. As war raged above him, Sharabi held onto the hope that he would be reunited with his loved ones.

In the first memoir by a released Israeli hostage, and the fastest-selling book in Israel's history, Sharabi offers a searing firsthand account of survival under unimaginable conditions—starvation, isolation, physical beatings, and psychological abuse at the hands of his captors.

Eli Sharabi's story is one of hunger and heartache, of physical pain, longing, loneliness and a helplessness that threatens to destroy the soul. But it is also a story of strength, of resilience, and of the human spirit's refusal to surrender. It is about the camaraderie forged in captivity, the quiet power of faith, and one man's unrelenting decision to choose life, time and time again.

Reminiscent of Elie Wiesel's Night, Hostage is a profound witness to history, so that it shall be neither forgotten nor erased.

©2025 Eli Sharabi (P)2025 Hachette UK Limited
Military & War Middle East Heartfelt Inspiring Scary Thought-Provoking
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Eli is a very brave and resilient man who remained strong throughout his horrific ordeal. I highly recommend this book to every human being. So happy that he survived and I wish him continued strength to live his life well

Eli’s strength is more than admirable

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A powerful story of how one man survived unthinkable horror and deprivation without ever losing his humanity. A story highlighting the life-affirming power of goodness and the self-defeating and nihilistic nature of hate.

The must-read non-fiction title of the century

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An account of a great crime, written in simple, sparse, and accessible prose that speaks volumes.

The performance was a tour de force, delivered calmly, systematically, and with subtlety. Please listen to this book.

Powerful

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The description of the time Eli spent in the Hamas terror tunnels was so vivid. Although gruelling to listen to, he did not embroider what took place and listed the account of the desperate living conditions and how he psychologically managed to survive. I hope Eli will write a sequel of how he got on after his release. A remarkable man and a remarkable account

Extraordinary testimony

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After listening to Eli Sharabi speak in person in London after his release from 491 days in captivity at the hands of brutal Hamas terrorists, I was in awe of his amazing strength and desire to survive. Eli has written a beautiful and harrowing account of his time in captivity, his relationship with his fellow hostages and his feelings towards his kidnappers and captors, whilst remaining unaware that his wife and daughters, who he was brutally torn away from on October 7th 2023, had been murdered by Hamas. Eli's overriding love for life and his fight for survival show his amazing strength and courage which he spread to his fellow hostages. Sadly this isn't a fictional tale - I was listening to this book whilst watching the remaining living hostages (some of whom Eli encountered during his time in captivity) being released back to their families in Israel. This is a really important book, not only to understand the events of October 7th 2023 and the years that followed but also as an inspirational account of survival above all else.

A must-listen account of strength and survival

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