At the United Nations Security Council meeting, Eli Sharabi, an Israeli hostage recently released after being held by Hamas for 491 days, shared his harrowing experience of being mistreated, chained, and starved. His appearance highlighted his anger and the lack of action he perceived from international bodies during his captivity.
Sharabi questioned the absence of intervention by the United Nations and the Red Cross, asking the council, “Where was the world?” He urged the powerful UN body to prove its commitment to humanity by working to free the hostages still in Gaza, many of whom might be deceased. After Israel resumed military actions, ending a temporary ceasefire that had facilitated some exchanges of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, the future of these remaining hostages remains uncertain.
In his testimony, Sharabi recounted how, while the council discussed humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza, Hamas militants were allegedly consuming U.N.-labelled food while the hostages suffered severe malnutrition, getting only scant daily rations of pita and tea, with an occasional dry date. By the time he was released on February 8, Sharabi’s weight had dropped to an alarming 44 kilos (97 pounds), hardly more than his youngest daughter, who was tragically killed along with his wife and older daughter in a surprise Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Sharabi was one of 251 taken hostage in this assault.
The United States had vetoed a previous U.N. Security Council resolution in November calling for an immediate ceasefire, arguing that it didn’t ensure the release of hostages. This led the Palestinians and their allies to the General Assembly, which passed a nonbinding resolution demanding a ceasefire and the hostages’ release. However, the brief ceasefire initiated in January was abruptly ended by an Israeli airstrike on Gaza, leading to significant casualties.
Sharabi’s session marked the second time a freed hostage addressed the council, following Israel’s request for the discussion. Britain’s deputy ambassador, James Kariuki, condemned the actions of Hamas while criticizing Israeli rhetoric threatening Gaza’s destruction, emphasizing Britain’s demand for investigations into reported violence against Palestinians and a call for the return to ceasefire conditions.
France’s U.N. ambassador, Jérôme Bonnafont, expressed condolences to Sharabi and condemned the renewed Israeli assaults, asserting that bombings will not free the hostages and called for the easing of Gaza’s blockade. In contrast, Russia’s deputy ambassador, Dmitry Polyansky, decried the violence suffered by Sharabi and criticized Israel for not progressing into a peace phase to end hostilities fully.
Representing the Arab nations, Algeria’s U.N. Ambassador Amar Bendjama labeled Sharabi a beacon for civil society while accusing Israel of selectively applying international law, citing their restrictions on Gaza and its humanitarian needs since early March.
After council deliberations, the Palestinian U.N. ambassador, Riyad Mansour, expressed condolences to Sharabi, explaining that Palestinians resonate with such suffering as part of their own narrative. On his part, Sharabi refrained from critiquing Israeli actions, except for recalling the unfulfilled expectation of military rescue during the initial attack on his home.
Sharabi concluded by making an emotional plea on behalf of a fellow hostage and others left in captivity, insisting: “Bring them all home. Now!”
