Joy and heartache for freed hostage

Eli did not know family were killed

-  SIMON MURPHY

BEAMING with his beloved wife and daughters in a snap taken before his capture, Eli Sharabi was a picture of fatherly pride.

But yesterday, the strain of captivity c was etched on the 52-year-old's gaunt a face as he and two other Israelis were t released in Gaza after 491 days of detention,

Tragically, it emerged Eli had not known that Britishborn wife Lianne, 48, and children Noiya, 16, and Yahel, 13, were killed in Hamas's October 7 atrocity.

He had reportedly told soldiers he was looking forward to seeing them.

The hostages were FR released as Israel wit freed 183 Palestinian prisoners in return.