In a powerful demonstration of support for Israel, President Trump is set to meet with Eli Sharabi, an Israeli hostage who survived 16 months of brutal Hamas captivity. The meeting comes as the President continues to show unwavering solidarity with America’s closest Middle East ally.
At a Glance
- Former Hamas hostage Eli Sharabi has been invited to meet with President Trump at the White House
- Sharabi endured 16 months of captivity, losing 40% of his body weight while being starved and beaten
- Trump was reportedly shocked after viewing Sharabi’s testimony with English subtitles
- Sharabi will travel on a plane provided by Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson
- The meeting aims to emphasize the urgency of securing a ceasefire and hostage release deal
Trump Steps Up While Biden Administration Falters
President Donald Trump has extended a White House invitation to Eli Sharabi, an Israeli hostage who was released in February after nearly 500 days in Hamas captivity. Trump’s decisive action comes amid growing concerns that the Biden administration had been ineffective in securing the release of remaining hostages and properly supporting Israel in its fight against terrorism.
Sharabi was at home when Hamas terrorists attacked on October 7, 2023, resulting in the death of his wife and daughters. His brother Yossi was also taken hostage and later died in Gaza during an Israeli military operation. Sharabi’s harrowing testimony on Israeli television moved Trump to arrange the meeting, demonstrating the President’s personal commitment to addressing the hostage crisis.
Trump invites freed Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi to White House after he shared account of stomach-churning Hamas torture https://t.co/l5dZUYX6ns pic.twitter.com/Hm05G6eO7D
— New York Post (@nypost) March 3, 2025
Brutal Reality of Hamas Captivity
Sharabi’s account of his time in captivity reveals the barbaric nature of Hamas’s treatment of Israeli hostages. He described being chained, beaten regularly, and subjected to severe starvation, receiving as little as 250 calories per day. The physical toll was devastating, with Sharabi losing 40% of his body weight during his ordeal.
“They came and told us – ‘[Palestinian] prisoners are not receiving food, so you won’t eat. Our prisoners are being beaten, so we’ll beat you.’ That was the constant threat,” Eli Sharabi said.
The former hostage also expressed his daily struggles with extreme hunger, which overshadowed even the physical abuse he endured. His testimony provides crucial firsthand evidence of Hamas’s war crimes and the ongoing suffering of those still held in Gaza tunnels, highlighting the urgency of Trump’s intervention in this humanitarian crisis.
America First Leader Steps In Where Others Failed
The Sharabi family will travel to Washington on a plane provided by Miriam Adelson, a major Republican donor and staunch Israel supporter. This alliance between Trump and prominent pro-Israel figures demonstrates the former president’s ability to mobilize powerful resources in support of American allies, particularly at a time when the current administration’s Middle East policy faces growing criticism.
“Monday morning, we’re boarding the plane with Mrs. Adelson’s kind help. We’ll arrive to see Trump and explain to him up close the urgency of continuing the first stage or beginning the second stage [of the ceasefire] — it doesn’t really matter,” said his brother, Sharon Sharabi.
Sharabi is expected to play a significant role in Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress, further elevating the plight of Israeli hostages on the world stage. The Trump administration has consistently shown strong support for Israel throughout the Gaza crisis, including approving a critical $3 billion arms sale to bolster Israel’s defense capabilities against terrorist threats.
