'It was very tough but I love life' - ex-hostage whose family were killed on 7 October

October 3, 2025

'It was very tough but I love life' - ex-hostage whose family were killed on 7 October

A former Israeli hostage whose British-Israeli wife and children were killed by Hamas in the 7 October attacks, says he is "very worried" the latest peace plan to end fighting between Israel and Hamas, will fall through.

In a rare interview, Eli Sharabi, who became one of the most high profile of those taken when gunmen stormed into Israel two years ago, said the lives of the remaining 20 living hostages were being put at risk by the continued Israel-Gaza war.

He called on US president Donald Trump to "finish the job" by using his influence to ensure they and 28 other hostages believed to have died, are released.

He told his former captors, Hamas, to sign the deal for "their people…and the Middle East... War is wrong and awful for both sides".

"We have to keep hope" that there will be an agreement, he added.

The 20-point peace plan , agreed by Trump and Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, proposes an immediate end to fighting and the release within 72 hours of all hostages, in exchange for hundreds of detained Gazans and Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Hamas officials have indicated they will reject it.

Hamas still holds the body of Mr Sharabi's brother Yossi, who he is desperate to return home for a burial, as well as his friend, 24-year-old Alon Ohel, who was held with him in tunnels deep beneath Gaza.

Having spent 491 days in captivity, Mr Sharabi discovered only on the day of his release in February 2025 that his wife Lianne, and daughters, 16-year-old Noiya and 13-year-old Yahel, were no longer alive - shot dead after he was taken.