Former Hostages Alon Ohel and Eli Sharabi Reflect on Captivity and Friendship
Former hostages Alon Ohel and Eli Sharabi reflected on their captivity in Gaza, their enduring friendship, and life after release during a joint conference interview.
A year after their release from Hamas captivity, former hostages Alon Ohel and Eli Sharabi reflected on their enduring friendship, trauma, and recovery during a joint interview at the Ynet "People of the State" conference on Tuesday. Held together in underground tunnels in the Gaza Strip, the two men shared how they survived months of isolation and built a profound bond that continues to support their lives today.
Sharabi, a resident of Kibbutz Be'eri, was released in February 2025 after 491 days in captivity. Ohel, a pianist abducted at age 22 from the Nova music festival, was freed in October 2025 with the final group of living hostages, having endured 738 days. Both noted they never imagined the immense public attention and emotional weight that awaited them upon returning to Israel.
Reflecting on the small, everyday privileges that were denied to them during captivity, Ohel highlighted simple acts like opening a refrigerator. Sharabi spoke of longing for a hot shower, noting the agony of rationing half a bucket of cold water every few weeks while pleading for basic hygiene. Despite the lingering emotional scars, both men expressed deep gratitude for life and advocated for national unity.
"We need to stay united and together," Ohel concluded. "Not just being united when things are hard for us, but also when times are good, and to keep being that way."
