A Family Torn by Tragedy: One Man's Fight for His Brothers

"We remain hopeful and optimistic, believing Hashem, in His mercy, will bring us good," says Sharon Shlomo, brother to Yossi, may his memory be a blessing, and Eli, who are held captive by Hamas, when asked how he is doing these days.

Over 300 days have passed since his brothers were captured. Yossi was murdered after about 100 days, and there's been no sign of life from Eli. Sharon understands the facts but remains filled with hope. "Hashem does not let prayers go unanswered; you will yet see great miracles," he insists.

Yossi Sharabi, may his memory be a blessing, with two of his daughters

Like a Horror Movie

"Originally, we're a Tel Aviv family with five children," he recounts. "Osnat is the eldest, Hila the youngest, and then there's us, the three sons – Eli, Yossi, and me. At 17, Eli went on a youth tour of the Negev and told our parents he wanted to live in Be'eri. He left Tel Aviv and moved to the kibbutz. During that time, Yossi was serving in the army and, afterward, he traveled to Australia and America. When he returned, he joined Eli, and both became kibbutz members. Yossi married Nira and had three daughters, while Eli married Leanne, a British citizen, and had two daughters. They were deeply connected to Be'eri, always praising it as an amazing place to live and raise children."

It seems you chose a different path from them...

"That's right. Though we all come from a traditional home, I drew closer to tradition. In my youth, I was a soccer player, and even then, I tried to play only after praying at the synagogue. Later, I married my wife, who is religious, though she never pressured me with comments like 'keep Shabbat.' But if you seek truth, you find it, and after six years of marriage, I also realized my purpose as a religious person."

Being religious, you likely had no idea about the attack on Simchat Torah...

"Correct. I live in Alfei Menashe, an area without alarms, so I knew nothing until evening when a neighbor, aware my family was in Be'eri, approached me with a somber face and said, 'Sharon, Hamas has taken over Be'eri; there might be hundreds dead.' On hearing this, I felt as if I stopped breathing. Later, when I turned on my phone, I found over 1,700 messages containing the most horrific videos and atrocities imaginable. These were not messages from my siblings, as they knew I don't check my phone on Shabbat, so they hadn't sent me anything.

"Hours passed without any word about our family until Nira, Yossi's wife, contacted us. She informed us that she and their daughters were safe but that Yossi and Ofir Engel, their daughter Yuval's boyfriend, had been kidnapped to Gaza. Nira didn't know about Eli's family, leaving us in dark suspense for days. Only on the 11th day did we hear that Eli's wife, Leanne, had been murdered. On the 15th day, we learned about the murder of their youngest daughter, Yael, and finally, they told us that Noya, the eldest daughter, was also murdered. During these devastating times, Eli was missing, only for us to be informed at the end of the shiva for his wife and daughters that he had been kidnapped."

Eli Shlomo held in Gaza, with his son

The Fight of a Lifetime

Sharon takes a moment and speaks personally. "It’s no coincidence that the Shlomo family is a symbol of the struggle to return the hostages. Yossi's story touches everyone; he was kidnapped alive and survived for about 100 days in Hamas captivity. He was with Itay Seversky, may his memory be a blessing, and Noa Ergami, providing opportunities for rescue that were missed.

"Eli, who is still in captivity, breathes his last breaths in Hamas tunnels after losing his entire family – his wife and two daughters. The Shlomo family lost four members, and we have no intention of retrieving a fifth coffin. My mother, who is 76, may she live a long life, waits daily for a chance to hug Eli again. My father passed away three years ago, sparing him from this nightmare and pain.

"Since it happened, I've dedicated myself entirely to the fight of my life, focused on bringing my brothers home. Not a day goes by without me visiting politicians, seeking any platform, talking, pleading, and making every effort. In rare quiet moments, I visit bereaved families who lost sons in battle. I thank them for their sacrifice, knowing their sons fell trying to save my brothers."

Where do you find the strength to wage such a fight?

"The answer is clear – my faith in Hashem sustains me. I firmly believe Hashem knows what He is doing, and even when we suffer and the situation appears bleak, it’s understood that everything He does is for our benefit. There is no other option. Another source of strength is the overwhelming support from the people of Israel since Simchat Torah, coming together to bring back the hostages and support our country.

"I draw strength from my mother, who has devoted her life to us and now, at 76, faces this ultimate horror. Seeing my mother's tears daily, my commitment is to bring my brothers home – Yossi for burial with Hashem's help, and Eli back to us alive with Hashem's blessing. We believe Eli will return safe and sound. While he will need long rehabilitation after such prolonged captivity, and it’s unfathomable what he’ll endure discovering the loss of his family and brother who lived nearby, I trust all of Israel will rally to embrace and restore him. This period has shown me countless brothers and sisters standing with us, anticipating good news, and surely helping them afterward."

After more than 300 days of struggle, what do you think remains to be done?

"We must realize that Israeli citizens are in a tough predicament, between Israel's impressive long-range precision strikes and the marathon over 300-day struggle, far from finished, with 115 hostages still in Hamas captivity. But there must be one certainty – if the hostages are not home, the mission is incomplete. Decision-makers have the tool to change history. In the narratives being inscribed in our chronicles right now, it will be recorded whether Israel succeeded in bringing hostages back or failed. I hope and trust the decision-makers will fulfill their duty, while all of us – the people of Israel – pray, believe, and continue hoping because we are believers, sons of believers."