‘I’ll be back’, Israeli hostage told family, but they died while he lived | Global News Avenue

Before he was kidnapped by Hamas, former Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi told his British wife and daughter: “I will come back, I will come back to you.”

It was not until he was released that he was taken away for 16 months before he discovered his wife Lianne, from Bristol, teenage daughters Noiya and Yahel from Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 He was murdered by Hamas Gunmen shortly after taking it away.

It was the promise that he had moved forward throughout his imprisonment, his brother said.

But after being released earlier this month, Israeli Army officers told Mr. Sarabee that the three were killed in the attack.

His brother-in-law, Steve Brisley, is from Bridgend, South Wales. hostage Hamas handed Hamas over to the Red Cross in the choreography of Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza.

Mr. Brisley told the BBC: “When he was taken out of the house, they were still alive, and he said to them: ‘Whatever happens, whatever is done to me, I will come back. I will come back to you .”

“He is a man of honor. He is a family. What keeps him moving forward is to keep his promise to Lianne and the girl.”

In a February 8 release, Mr. Sarabee gave a speech on the stage and said he was looking forward to reunion with his wife and children.

Mr. Brisley added: “Until he moved from Gaza to Israel in the Israeli army, he asked ‘Is Leanne and the girl waiting for me?’

“One of the soldiers had to tell him that they were actually murdered on October 7 without waiting for him.

“It was absolutely devastating for him, not something he really recovered. We talked about that moment and he was obviously very excited.

“We hugged and wept together. It was a devastating loss for him, especially because I will come back when the promises he made to Lianne and the girls were taken away, and I will come back no matter what happens .

“He kept this promise, but unfortunately they were not there to see him.”

Mr. Sarabee spent 490 days on hostages, and Mr. Brisley said his brother-in-law has not spoken about his time in prison yet – but he described the “hunger” he and the other hostages faced as the toughest moment.

Mr. Brisley added: “It took me 16 months to speak on his behalf because he had no voice and obviously he had gone out and he would have his own story and his own truth to tell.”

Mr. Brisley told BBC Radio Welsh Breakfast Last week was “evil, emotional, but cathartic.”

He said his wife and daughters were desperately waiting for the news the day before Mr. Sarabee was about to be released.

“We saw Eli coming out of the car, but he couldn’t recognize it,” Brisley said. “The four of us were saying ‘Is that Eli?’, he was so attractive and thin.”

“We just hug each other, hug each other, tell each other to love each other,” Mr. Brisley said when he arrived at the hospital where Mr. Sarabee was transferred.

Mr. Brisley described Mr. Sarabee as “incredibly thin, thin, fragile.”

He added: “He was pale but was so strong in spirit, and it was incredible to see the spiritual strength and perseverance he had.”

“What was most painful for us was the darkness in his eyes, and the light seemed to have disappeared.”

Mr. Brisley said he wanted to make sure his brother-in-law knew he was still “an integral part of our family”.

“We will never know exactly what happened, what they were killed,” Brisley said.

He said they sat there talking about the memories of Lianne, Noiya and Yahel.

“It was exciting, we shared the tears, we shared the hugs, and obviously he was choked at times, but he was able to talk about them.”

“I gave him some sadness about how rubbish Manchester United last year, and he laughed and it was, seeing the light in his eyes reassured me that Eli was still there.

“I think the most positive thing I’ve talked to with him is that he really sees the future, and he really wants to continue,” Brisley said.

The trip to Israel also allowed Mr. Brisley to “handle the losses of Ryanne and the girl”, as he put it: “It is always difficult to fully interact with our sorrow while Erie is still imprisoned”.

He said he visited New Site Festival And the Sarabee Family House, “cold, dark, no love, laughter and light that was there 18 months ago.”

“I’m sitting on the floor and crying,” he said.

“It’s instantly beautiful and terrible, but cathartic, sadness is just love without home,” Mr. Brisley said. “Now Eli is back and we can guide love somewhere, and I think that will help us for Lianne and the girls.” They feel sad.”

“We’re looking for a chapter of the entire horror book, but we’re going to deal with it for the rest of our lives,” he said.

Lianne grew up in Staple Hill, a suburb of Bristol, and first moved to Kibbutz volunteers at the age of 19 before moving to the country permanently.

She met Ellie just three months later in Israel. They had two daughters, Noah and Yeher, who were 16 and 13 when they were killed.

One of Eli’s brothers, Yossi, was also taken hostage on October 7 but was later imprisoned. Hamas said his death was the result of an Israeli air strike that Israel said.

Mandy Damari, the mother of former British Israeli hostage Emily Damari, also highlighted the horrible impact on the hostages on Wednesday, who was also recently released.

This is the first time that her daughter has spoken publicly since she was released in Israel’s speech, her daughter now needs further hospital treatment.

“Unfortunately, Emily did not receive the right treatment for humanitarian aid or gunshot wounds in her hand,” Ms. Damari said.

“So, correction surgery is required this month, and then recovery and recovery.

“Many other hostages will be in the same situation as Emily in the desperate need for food, medication, etc.”

She called for humanitarian assistance, to go to hostages who are still in custody, and to release all.

Ms. Damari added: “Continue to fight and pray, knowing that we are all with you, maybe all the hostages are returned to their families, just like I still fall in love with the moon and Emily who is back , was sent back to me.