On October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorists attacked the kibbutz where Eli Sharabi, his wife and two daughters lived. He was separated from his wife and daughters and taken hostage. Hostage is the story of his 491 days in captivity. Most of his time was spent in filthy underground rooms where he was intimidated, humiliated, practically starved and shackled. Hostage relates how he and the prisoners he lived with spent their days and survived.

Hostage is not an easy read, especially now, but it is most certainly worthwhile to know about Sharabi’s ordeal. The memoir ends days after his release, and I would have liked to have read how Eli Sharabi was doing months later. I also was curious to know what happened to the others he lived with in captivity. Were they released or killed?