President Trump has invited a freed Israeli hostage who suffered barbaric treatment while he was held in Gaza to the White House.
Eli Sharabi, who was freed on Saturday February 8 after spending nearly 500 days in captivity, is expected to travel to Washington tomorrow.
His gaunt appearance when he was released sparked concern that the 54-year-old had been mistreated or even tortured by Hamas.
Now in a harrowing interview with Israel’s Channel 12 Mr Sharabi described how he was beaten, chained and starved during his captivity in Gaza.
After watching Mr Sharabi’s interview with English subtitles Trump has invited him and two other hostages to visit the White House.
Mr Sharabi’s brother, Sharon, told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz about the invitation.
He said that Mr Sharabi and the other hostages will travel to the US on the private jet of Miriam Adelson – an Israeli-American and major Trump donor.
‘Tomorrow morning, we’re boarding the plane with Mrs. Adelson’s kind help. We’ll arrive to see Trump and explain to him up close the urgency of continuing the first stage or beginning the second stage – it doesn’t really matter,’ Sharon said.
Eli Sharabi (pictured) who was freed on Saturday February 8 after spending nearly 500 days in captivity. His gaunt appearance when he was released sparked concern that the 54-year-old had been mistreated or even tortured by Hamas
After watching Mr Sharabi’s harrowing interview with Israeli media Donald Trump has invited him and two other hostages to visit the White House
He described Trump’s invite as ‘inspiring’ and hoped the meeting will lead to the release of the more than 50 hostages still believed to be in Gaza.
The President previously compared Mr Sharabi and fellow hostages, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami, to ‘Holocaust survivors’ after they were released last month.
During Mr Sharabi’s interview he revealed that Hamas’ behaviour towards the hostages was heavily influenced by how the Israeli government treated their Palestinian prisoners.
‘They came and told us – “[Palestinian] prisoners are not receiving food, so you won’t eat. Our prisoners are being beaten, so we’ll beat you.” That was the constant threat,’ Mr Sharabi said.
During his terrifying ordeal Mr Sharabi survived on just 250 – 300 calories a day and was shackled by his legs with heavy chains ‘that cut into the flesh with every step’ for much of his time in captivity.
It was previously reported that Hams hung Mr Sharabi and his fellow hostages by their feet, throttled them with rope, gagged their mouths and branded them with burning objects.
The captives were deliberately starved, held in a room inside a tunnel so tiny they could not move nor stand and were left struggling for air.
After days without food or water they were handed rotten pita bread which they were made to share with others.
Mr Sharabi and the other hostages will travel to the US on the private jet of Miriam Adelson (pictured) – an Israeli-American and major Trump donor
Mr Sharabi before he was taken hostage. During his time in Gaza he was deliberately starved, held in a room inside a tunnel so tiny they could not move nor stand and were left struggling for air
‘We were treated like animals,’ one said on being released.
The terrorists also subjected the men to barbaric interrogation sessions over 491 days in captivity.
Hamas strangled them, tied them up and gagged their mouths with cloth so they nearly suffocated.
It was only when they were due for release that the captives were permitted food so that they could stand on their feet during the handover ceremony.
Mr Sharabi was taken hostage from his home at the Be’eri Kibbutz on October 7 2023.
Tragically, he only learnt after his release that his British born wife Lianne, 48, and their daughters Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13, had died during the attacks.
Hamas taunted him during their ‘handover ceremony’ where they made him say he was looking forward to seeing his wife and children once he got back home.
