Within its first week of release, the book became a bestseller on the Israel Hayom list,[2] selling over 20,000 copies in five days and earning a Gold Book Award. It later achieved Platinum (70,000 copies) and Diamond (100,000 copies) certifications, becoming the fastest-selling title in Hebrew publishing history.[3][4]
Background
Eli Sharabi is a member of Kibbutz Be'eri, with a B.A. in economics and management and an MBA from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Over the years, he has served as the kibbutz treasurer, business manager, and board director. In October 2023, he worked as chief financial officer at the Iridium investment fund.[5]
On 7 October 2023, during the Hamas attack on Israel, Sharabi was abducted from his home in Kibbutz Be'eri. His wife Lian and daughters Noya (16) and Yahel (13) were murdered in the attack. His brother, Yossi Sharabi, was also kidnapped and later murdered in captivity.[6][7]
Content
In Hostage, Sharabi describes life in captivity in Gaza, the physical conditions, the psychological warfare, religious coercion attempts by his captors, and the bonds formed among the hostages. He recounts moments when the captors offered food in exchange for reciting Quranic verses, and how he and others refused. The book also deals with his emotional and spiritual recovery following his release.[8][9]
The book was officially launched on May 30, 2025 at the ANU – Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv, and released on June 5, 2025.[10] Sharabi later began giving motivational lectures in Israel and abroad under the title "The Light at the End of the Tunnel", sharing his story and message of hope and faith.[11][12]
Translation
The English translation, by Eylon Levy, was published by HarperCollins under the imprint Harper Influence on October 7, 2025.[13] A wider international edition in additional languages is scheduled for release in late 2025.
A week after its U.S. publication, Hostage entered the New York Times Best Seller list at number four.[14]
Reception
"Hostage" received significant media attention and critical acclaim in both Israel and abroad.
Writing for The Jewish Chronicle, reviewer Ben Kaplan described the book as "a highly readable account of barely imaginable nightmare" praising Sharabi’s ability to blend documentary precision with deep emotional resonance.[15]
The Jerusalem Post and JNS described the memoir as "the first published memoir of a freed Hamas captive" emphasizing its historical and emotional impact on the Israeli public.[16]
Upon its release in the United States, Hostage debuted at number four on the New York Times nonfiction list, reflecting its wide international readership and the growing global interest in firsthand accounts of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war.[17]
In Israel, the Hebrew edition set national sales records, selling over 20,000 copies within five days, surpassing 100,000 copies by September 2025, and earning Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Book Awards.[18]
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