Eli Sharabi, an Israeli man who was held hostage by Hamas for 16 months, is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington this week.
The meeting follows Trump’s emotional reaction to an interview Sharabi gave, where he spoke about the severe conditions he endured during his captivity in Gaza.
Released on February 8 after nearly 500 days in captivity, Sharabi, along with two other hostages, will meet Trump on Tuesday.
His brother, Sharon Sharabi, shared that Trump was deeply moved by Eli’s harrowing account and expressed his heartfelt sympathy for those who survived.
Sharabi was among the hostages taken during the deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Be’eri kibbutz, where his wife Lianne and their two daughters tragically lost their lives. His brother Yossi, also taken hostage, passed away in Gaza.
The visit to Washington was made possible by Miriam Adelson, an Israeli-American billionaire and strong Trump supporter, who arranged a private plane for Sharabi’s travel.
Sharon Sharabi stated that the purpose of the trip is to personally convey the urgency of the ongoing hostage crisis to President Trump.
This meeting comes amid international calls for action regarding the hostage situation, and while Israel faces growing criticism over its actions in Gaza.
