Former hostage visits Parliament House

House Speaker Milton Dick welcomed former Israeli hostage Eli Sharabi to Parliament House on Tuesday, acknowledging his presence in the gallery following his release from 491 days in Hamas captivity.

Sharabi was abducted by terrorists from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on southern Israel in which 1200 Israelis were murdered and 251 taken hostage. He was released in February 2025 as part of the hostage-ceasefire deal in effect at the time.

He only learned upon his release that his wife Lianne and daughters Noiya and Yahel had been murdered by terrorists. Sharabi’s brother Yossi was also murdered and his body remains in Gaza.

“Even in silence, his presence speaks volumes – a powerful reminder of the deep and lasting pain of that day, and of our duty to never forget,” Dick told the House of Representatives.

While at Capital Hill, Sharabi met with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong to advocate for the release of the remaining 48 hostages, including the body of his brother Yossi.