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Former Hamas Hostage Warned Australian Officials About Rising Antisemitism Months Before Bondi Beach Attack
A former Hamas hostage revealed he warned Australian leaders about the dangers of rising antisemitism months before the deadly Hanukkah celebration shooting at Bondi Beach that claimed 15 lives.
Eli Sharabi, who endured 491 days as a hostage in Gaza, told Fox News Digital that while visiting Australia in June, he met with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, cautioning them that escalating antisemitism would lead to violence.
“When it happens, a hate crime here, it will be your responsibility because you have to have a stronger voice against antisemitism,” Sharabi recalled telling the officials. “Unfortunately, it happened. And that’s crazy, it’s crazy. Really, I’m so sorry for that.”
Sharabi described how he foresaw Jewish people living in fear on Australian streets and urged government officials to speak out more forcefully before tragedy struck. The attack on the Hanukkah celebration, which left dozens wounded in addition to the fatalities, reminded him of the persecution of European Jews in the 1940s.
“Suddenly you feel like it’s the 1940s again, and we are in 2025, 90 years later, all these things are happening again,” Sharabi said.
A spokesperson for Wong responded that she “deeply appreciated her meeting with Eli Sharabi and thanks him for sharing his insights and experiences,” adding that Wong “has consistently condemned antisemitism and antisemitic attacks.” The spokesperson noted that Australia is strengthening laws against antisemitism and online abuse, enhancing educational responses, and lowering the threshold to cancel visas for those who spread antisemitism.
Sharabi’s own story is marked by profound tragedy. He was released from Hamas captivity on February 8, 2025, after being taken hostage from Kibbutz Be’eri during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. It wasn’t until after his release that he learned his wife, Lianne, and their daughters, Noiya and Yahel, had been killed in the attack.
Since gaining his freedom, Sharabi has traveled globally to share his experiences, which he has documented in his book “Hostage,” now translated into multiple languages. He advocates for the release of remaining hostages, particularly Alon Ohel, with whom he formed a strong bond during captivity.
“It was an amazing feeling to see him released. He’s like my son,” Sharabi said of Ohel, adding that they try to speak daily and have met several times since regaining their freedom.
The Bondi Beach attack has added urgency to Australia’s response to antisemitism. In the aftermath, Australian authorities detained seven men as part of anti-terror operations while the country mourned the victims, including the youngest casualty whose funeral recently took place.
Nearly a year after his release, Sharabi says he now appreciates every moment of freedom. “First of all, I’m alive. Second, I’m free, and I’ve learned that freedom is priceless,” he told Fox News Digital. “Every morning I wake up, I say thank you very much for what I have and for my freedom, and I can be able to choose whatever I do that day and not to ask permission from anyone to eat or drink or speak.”
While in captivity, Sharabi had promised himself he would relocate his family to London for a peaceful life, motivated by the fear he saw in his daughters’ eyes on October 7. Those plans have changed with the loss of his family, but he still envisions building a new life for himself once the body of Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage in Gaza, is returned to Israel.
Sharabi says returning to Kibbutz Be’eri is not an option for him. “I can’t go back to Be’eri. It’s something I need to solve with myself and with my therapist, of course. How can I get into my house again? For me, living in Be’eri, it’s not an option. In every corner, I can see the tragedy,” he explained. “I need a new place, a new restart for my life, so it cannot be in Be’eri.”
Despite his personal trauma, Sharabi continues to advocate against antisemitism and for the release of all hostages, determined to honor the memory of his family while rebuilding his own life.
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10 Comments
The parallels between this attack and the persecution of Jews in the 1940s are deeply disturbing. We must learn from history and ensure that such horrors are never repeated. Governments need to make combating antisemitism an urgent priority.
This is a sobering reminder of the real-world consequences of allowing antisemitism to fester. Leaders have a responsibility to speak out forcefully and take concrete actions to address this alarming trend before it leads to more violence.
Absolutely. The fact that he specifically warned Australian officials months in advance makes this attack even more devastating. They had the opportunity to prevent this tragedy.
This is a devastating example of how ignoring the warning signs of antisemitism can have catastrophic consequences. The fact that a former hostage explicitly cautioned Australian officials makes this even more gut-wrenching. We must do better to protect Jewish communities.
It’s tragic that this former Hamas hostage’s warnings went unheeded. Antisemitism is a growing global threat that must be condemned and combated at all levels of government. More needs to be done to protect Jewish communities worldwide.
This is a devastating example of the real-world consequences of allowing antisemitism to grow unchecked. The fact that a former hostage explicitly warned officials makes this even more gut-wrenching. Governments must make combating this hatred an urgent priority.
This is a tragic case of forewarned but not forearmed. It’s unacceptable that the former hostage’s warnings were not heeded. Elected officials have a moral duty to take swift and decisive action against rising antisemitism.
The parallels to the 1940s are deeply disturbing. Antisemitism is a pernicious evil that must be eradicated. I hope this tragedy spurs governments around the world to take bold, decisive steps to protect Jewish communities and stamp out this hatred.
It’s heartbreaking that this former hostage’s pleas for action were not heeded. Antisemitism is a global scourge that requires a coordinated, multinational response. Leaders must prioritize combating this hatred before it leads to more senseless tragedy.
Antisemitism is a cancer that continues to spread, despite the lessons of the past. I hope this incident serves as a wake-up call for leaders to address this issue with the gravity it deserves. Condolences to the victims and their families.