A BRITISH dad who lost his family on October 7 now faces an agonising wait to find out whether his brother-in-law who has been held hostage by Hamas is alive.
Eli Sharabi, 52, who was kidnapped by Hamas gunmen 15 months ago, is on the list of names that the terror group claims will release.
52-year-old Eli was snatched by Hamas terrorists on October 7
EPAEli’s name is on the list of 33 hostages Hamas said will release[/caption]
Eli pictured with his family, was seen on a pick-up truck alongside two other hostages who were later released
Yossi Sharabi (pictured left) was executed by Hamas while his brother Eli remains hostage
Noiya (left) her sister Yahel and their mum Lianne were all murdered by Hamas
His brother in-law- Stephen Brisley says his family has been watching with bated breath the ceasefire deal developments and are anxiously waiting to find out if their loved one will make it our of Gaza alive.
Stephen’s sister Leanne 48, and her daughters Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13, were brutally murdered by Hamas in Kibbutz Be’eri in October 2023.
Leanne’s husband Eli was kidnapped by the terrorists and has not been heard ever since.
He was seen being taken by Hamas on a pick-up truck alongside Ofir Engel, 18 and Amit Shani, 16 – who were later released.
Eli’s brother Yossi Sharabi, who was also kidnapped by Hamas, was later executed in a sick Hamas video.
Stephen, from Bridgend, Wales, says his family has been told the state of the 33 hostages bound to be released will be confirmed by the 7th day of the ceasefire.
He told The Sun: “At least we know his name is on the list but that’s not guarantee that he’s alive.
“We’ve got that wait now. I feared we may have to wait week by week to find out.
“It’s going to be a horrific seven days of waiting and wondering but we are hopeful by day 7 we will at least know whether we’re getting out Eli alive or whether it is to bury him.
“The former is what we’re praying for but at least if it the case he’s not with us anymore we can give him the dignified burial he’s been denied for however long.
“We’re trying to keep positive but it’s going to be seven torturous days waiting for that news.
Stephen described how his family has been through “ a rollercoaster of emotions” as they feared the deal would collapse on Thursday.
Hours after the historic agreement to end the 15-month bloodshed was reached, Israel accused Hamas terrorists of “last-minute blackmail.”
Tel Aviv accused Hamas of reneging on key parts of the complex deal sparking fears the deal will collapse before it even starts.
Among those set to be released is the last remaining British hostage Emily Damari, 28 and baby Kfir.
But Israel finally announced this morning the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas will be signed.
Despite the delay, the Israeli PM’s office said hostages are still expected to be released from Gaza on Sunday as planned.
Stephen added: “The Israeli side of our family received a phone call at 3 o’clock in the morning from Israeli authorities to say the deal was going to be was going to be put to vote and confirmed the list of the 33 names.
“Since it’s all started breaking on Wednsday it’s been a rollercoaster of ups and downs.
GettyStephen Brisley is anxiously waiting to find out whether his brother-in-law is alive[/caption]
Eli’s name was on the list with 33 hostages Hamas said would release
Brits Lianne Sharabi and her two daughters, Yahel and Noiya, were killed on October 7
List of hostages Hamas say they will release
Women and children:
Romi Gonen, 23
Emily Damari, 27
Arbel Yehud, 29
Doron Steinbrecher, 31
Ariel Bibas, 5
Kfir Bibas, 1
Shiri Silberman Bibas, 33
Liri Albag, 19
Karina Ariev, 20
Agam Berger, 21
Danielle Gilboa, 20
Naama Levy, 20
Rest of the men:
Ohad Ben-Ami, 58
Gadi Moshe Moses, 80
Keith Siegel, 65
Ofer Calderon, 54
Eli Sharabi, 52
Itzik Elgarat, 70
Shlomo Mansour, 86
Ohad Yahalomi, 50
Youssef Hamis Ziyadne, 54
Oded Lifshitz, 84
Tsahi Idan, 50
Source: Times of Israel
“On Thursday it looked like it could all possibly come crushing down.
“Because they’ve been so many false calls in the past we started wondering if this wound be another one. It’s been a real rollercoaster of emotions.
“I’ve kept a lid on my emotions because of the experience of the last year, knowing that things are not always as they seem.
“But it does now look like it will at least start – whether or not the entire six weeks proceeded as planned is entirely different matter.
“We got an affinity with all the hostage families, they have all become like extended family for all of us so it’s always bittersweet when any hostage gets rescued or any hostage is announced to be dead and I think this will be the case over the six weeks.
“We’ll be delighted for those who got their relative back but deflated when it’s not our week for it.
“And that’s if the whole deal goes smoothly as I’m not convinced, there’s so much that can go wrong.
“Over the past 15 months we’ve learned not to get ahead of ourselves.”
The deal consists of three phases including the release of hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.
Eli has been held hostage for over a year
One of those freed could be British hostage Emily Damari
Baby Kfir, the youngest hostage taken by Hamas could also be released
What happened on October 7?
ON OCTOBER 7, 2023, Hamas launched a brutal surprise attack on Israel, marking one of the darkest days in the nation’s history.
Terrorists stormed across the border from Gaza, killing over 1,200 people — most of them civilians — and kidnapping 250 others, including women, children, and the elderly.
The coordinated assault saw heavily armed fighters infiltrate Israeli towns, kibbutzim, and military bases, unleashing indiscriminate violence.
Innocent families were slaughtered in their homes, and graphic footage of the atrocities spread across social media, leaving the world in shock.
The massacre triggered a swift and massive retaliatory response from Israel, escalating into a full-scale war.
The attack not only reignited long-standing tensions in the region but also left deep scars on both sides of the conflict, setting the stage for the 15 months of devastation that followed.
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